Text 9

वैकुण्ठाज्जनितो वरा मधुपुरी तत्रापि रासोत्सवाद्
वृन्दारण्यमुदारपाणिरमणात्तत्रापि गोवर्धनः ।
राधाकुन्डमिहापि गोकुलापतेः प्रेमामृताप्लावनात्
कुर्यादस्य विराजतो गिरितटे सेवां विवेकी न् कः ॥९॥

vaikuṇṭhāj janito varā madhu-purī tatrāpi rāsotsavād
vṛndāraṇyam udāra-pāṇi-ramaṇāt tatrāpi govardhanaḥ
rādhā-kuṇḍam ihāpi gokula-pateḥ premāmṛtāplāvanāt
kuryād asya virājato giri-taṭe sevāṁ vivekī na kaḥ

vaikuṇṭhātplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvaikuṇṭhāt

than Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual world.—than Vaikuṇṭha, the spiritual world; janitaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigjanitaḥ

because of birth; produced.—because of birth; varāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvara

a benediction; benediction; by the boon; exquisite; husband; nice husband; O best; respected; some benediction; the blessings; the Supreme; wife.—better; madhuplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigmadhu

and by the Madhus; by honey; by the honey; drinking liquor or honey; fragrant, laden with honey; honey; Madhu; nectar; of honey; sweet; sweet to hear; sweethearts; sweetness; the honey.-purīplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpuri

city; Jagannātha Purī; My dear Mādhavendra Purī; Mādhavendra Purī; Mādhavendra Purī Gosvāmī; O Mādhavendra Purī; Paramānanda Purī; Purī; Purī Gosāñi; the city; the great township; the place; the town; to Paramānanda Purī; Īśvara Purī; Śrī Raṅga Purī.—the transcendental city known as Mathurā; tatraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtatra

about the well of nectar; all those; among the sons; among them; and there; as well as; at that time; at that very spot; because of; here; in Him; in such; in such a condition; in such a position; in such a subject matter; in such activities; in that; in that case; in that connection (getting out of the entanglement of material conditioning); in that connection; in that direction; in that dynasty; in that forest; in that function; in that heavenly planet; in that meeting; in that ninth period of Manu; in that period (the eleventh manvantara); in that period; in that period of Manu; in that place; in that sacrifice; in that sixth manvantara; in that way; in the assembly; in the battlefield; in the eighth manvantara; in the forest; in this manvantara; in this; in those manvantara periods; in those hellish planets; in victory or defeat; in whom; inside the house of Narakāsura; on that hill; on the bank of the river; on the spot; on this fact; standing there; than them; that; then; then and there; thereafter; therefore; therein; thereof; thereon; thereupon; to that household life; upon doing this; within the wide-open mouth of Kṛṣṇa. 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.—superior to that; rāsaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigrasa

and mellows; and of mellows; humor; in mellows; juice; mellow; mellows; of mellow; of mellows; of the mellow; of the mellows; of the nectar; of the transcendental mellow; of transcendental mellows; such a mellow; taste; the juice; the juices; the mellow; the mellows; the mellows of love; these transcendental mellows; transcendental mellow; transcendental mellows; with humors.-utsavātplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigutsavāt

due to material sense gratification.—because of the performance of the rāsa-līlā; vṛndāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvrnda

by a multitude; groups; multitude.-araṇyamplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigaraṇyam

for the forest; forest; to the forest.—the forest of Vṛndāvana; udāraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigudara

bellies; belly; for the stomach; of the abdomen; on the abdomen.-pāṇiplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpani

tears; the water; water.—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; ramaṇātplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigramaṇāt

because of various kinds of loving pastimes.—because of various kinds of loving pastimes; tatraplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtatra

about the well of nectar; all those; among the sons; among them; and there; as well as; at that time; at that very spot; because of; here; in Him; in such; in such a condition; in such a position; in such a subject matter; in such activities; in that; in that case; in that connection (getting out of the entanglement of material conditioning); in that connection; in that direction; in that dynasty; in that forest; in that function; in that heavenly planet; in that meeting; in that ninth period of Manu; in that period (the eleventh manvantara); in that period; in that period of Manu; in that place; in that sacrifice; in that sixth manvantara; in that way; in the assembly; in the battlefield; in the eighth manvantara; in the forest; in this manvantara; in this; in those manvantara periods; in those hellish planets; in victory or defeat; in whom; inside the house of Narakāsura; on that hill; on the bank of the river; on the spot; on this fact; standing there; than them; that; then; then and there; thereafter; therefore; therein; thereof; thereon; thereupon; to that household life; upon doing this; within the wide-open mouth of Kṛṣṇa. 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.—superior to that; govardhanaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggovardhanaḥ

Govardhana; Govardhana Hill; named Govardhana.—Govardhana Hill; rādhāplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigradha

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

bathing place; lake.—a place called Rādhā-kuṇḍa; ihaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigiha

as a matter of fact; at the present moment; at this place; by this; during this span of life; here (in this body); here (in this life); here (in this universe); here (on this water); here; here in Jagannātha Purī; here in the spiritual world; here in this world; here in Vṛndāvana; here, in this arena of sacrifice; herein; herewith; in material sense gratification; in the foolish species of life; in the material world; in the matter of this offense; in the sacrifice; in the universe; in this (material world); in this (the holy name); in this Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; in this; in this battle; in this body; in this case; in this connection; in this existence; in this human society; in this land of Bhārata-varṣa; in this life; in this material world (especially in this pious land of Bhārata-varṣa, India); in this material world; in this matter of creation; in this millennium; in this narration; in this place; in this place, in this spot; in this situation; in this universe; in this very life; in this water; in this world; in this world of mortality; in this world or in this life; in Vaikuṇṭha; in which house; it; now; on this planet; on this subject; this; within the universe; within this life; within this material world; within this world. 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.—superior to this; gokulaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggokula

Gokula.-pateḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigpateḥ

of the master.—of Kṛṣṇa, the master of Gokula; 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.-amṛtaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigamṛta

and the very sweet ocean; eternal; eternal life; food for human beings; immortality; nectar; nectar, eternal; nectarean; of nectar; of the nectar; sweet; which is like nectar; with nectar.—with the nectar of divine love; āplāvanātplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigāplāvanāt

because of being overflooded.—because of being overflooded; kuryātplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkuryāt

act; acts; acts accordingly; can execute; can repay; do; do it; he should execute; he should meditate on; manifests; may do; must do; one must do; one should do; one should make; one should meditate; one should perform; performs; shall do; should do; should execute; will adopt; would do; would perform.—would do; asyaplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigasya

(the taking away) of this Ajāmila; about Him; by Him; for all these acts; for him; for such a person; his; his son; its; King Pṛthu; of a living entity; of a person; of Caṇḍavega; of Dakṣa; of Dhruva; of Dhruva Mahārāja; of her son; of him (Bali Mahārāja); of him (Bharata); of him (Brahmā); of Him (the Lord); of Him (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); of him (Tribhānu); of him; of His (Lord Kṛṣṇa's); of His; of Indra; of it; of Kṛti; of Kṛśāśva; of Kṛṣṇa; of Lord Brahmā; of Lord Kṛṣṇa; of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva; of Mahārāja Hariścandra; of Marutta; of Pṛthu; of Rambha; of such offenders; of that; of the virāṭ-puruṣa; of the advancing devotee; of the body of my husband; of the conditioned soul; of the cosmic manifestation; of the creation; of the devotee; of the entire cosmic manifestation; of the gigantic form; of the human beings; of the King; of the living being; of the living entities who have accepted material bodies; of the living entity; of the Lord; of the Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; of the lust; of the manifested universes; of the material world; of the people in general; of the person; of the Personality of Godhead; of the possessor; of the serpent (Kāliya); of the Supreme Lord; of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; of the universal form; of the universal form of the Lord; of the universe; of the world; of this (Ajāmila); of this (material world); of this (Rādhā-kuṇḍa); of this (the universe); of this brahmacārī Vāmana; of this; of this body; of this child; of this cosmic manifestation; of this creation; of this earth; of this King; of this man; of this manifested cosmos or of anything material or visible; of this material world; of this one; of this person; of this tree; of this universe; of this Vāmanadeva; of this world; of your son; of your son Kṛṣṇa; one's; this; to him (the dead boy); to the living entity; unto Prahlāda; upon him.—of this (Rādhā-kuṇḍa); virājataḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvirājataḥ

situated.—situated; giriplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_biggiri

by hills and mountains; by peaks of mountains; hill (Trikūṭa Mountain); hills; in the words or speech; mountains; of a mountain; of hills; of mountains; of the hills.-taṭeplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigtate

bank; on the bank; on the bank of; on the beach.—at the foot of Govardhana Hill; sevāmplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigsevām

service; transcendental loving service.—service; vivekīplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigvivekī

who is intelligent.—who is intelligent; naplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigna

never; not; are not; but not; cannot; certainly not; could not; did not; do not; does it not; does not; is not; it is not; it is not so; may not; neither; never; never does; never to be; no; no one; none; nor; not; not like that; not preceded by oṁ; not suitable; nothing; or not; shall not; should never; there is none; there is not; there should not be; was not; whether; without.—not; kaḥplugin-autotooltip__small plugin-autotooltip_bigkah

Brahmā (or arkaḥ---Sūrya); Brahmā; Brahmā, the original living creature; Dakṣa; Kaśyapa Muni; Lord Brahmā; Prajāpati Dakṣa; the prajāpati; the prajāpatis; what; what is that; who (Dakṣa); who (is there); who (is); who; who are; who else; who is he; who is that; who is that man; who is that person; who is there; whoever.—who. ¶

The holy place known as Mathurā is spiritually superior to Vaikuṇṭha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathurā—Purī is the transcendental forest of Vṛndāvana because of Kṛṣṇa’s rāsa-līlā pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vṛndāvana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Śrī Kṛṣṇa and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Where, then, is that intelligent Person who is unwilling to serve this divine Rādhā-kuṇḍa, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill? ¶

The spiritual world is three fourths of the total creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it is the most exalted region. The spiritual world is naturally superior to the material world; however, Mathurā and the adjoining areas, although appearing in the material world, are considered superior to the spiritual world because the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself appeared at Mathurā. The interior forests of Vṛndāvana are considered superior to Mathurā because of the presence of the twelve forests (dvādaśa-vana), such as Tālavana, Madhuvana and Bahulāvana, which are famous for the various pastimes of the Lord. Thus the interior Vṛndāvana forest is considered superior to Mathurā, but superior to these forests is the divine Govardhana Hill because Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana Hill like an umbrella, raising it with His lotuslike beautiful hand to protect His associates, the denizens of Vraja, from the torrential rains sent by the angry Indra, King of the demigods. It is also at Govardhana Hill that Kṛṣṇa tends the cows with His cowherd friends, and there also He had His rendezvous with His most beloved Śrī Rādhā and engaged in loving pastimes with Her. Rādhā-kuṇḍa, at the foot of Govardhana, is superior to all because it is there that love of Kṛṣṇa overflows. Advanced devotees prefer to reside at Rādhā-kuṇḍa because this place is the site of many memories of the eternal loving affairs between Kṛṣṇa and Rādhārāṇī (rati-vilāsa). ¶

In Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya-līlā) it is stated that when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu first visited the area of Vrajabhūmi, He could not at first find the location of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. This means that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was actually searching for the exact location of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Finally He found the holy spot, and there was a small pond there. He took His bath in that small pond and told His devotees that the actual Rādhā-kuṇḍa was situated there. Later the pond was excavated by Lord Caitanya’s devotees, headed first by the six Gosvāmīs, such as Rūpa and Raghunātha dāsa. Presently there is a large lake known as Rādhā-kuṇḍa there. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī has given much stress to Rādhā-kuṇḍa because of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s desire to find it. Who, then, would give up Rādhā-kuṇḍa and try to reside elsewhere? No person with transcendental intelligence would do so. The importance of Rādhā-kuṇḍa, however, cannot be realized by other Vaiṣṇava sampradāyas, nor can persons uninterested in the devotional service of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu understand the spiritual importance and divine nature of Rādhā-kuṇḍa. Thus Rādhā-kuṇḍa is mainly worshiped by the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas, the followers of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu. ¶