“When Uddhava said that he had a message from Krishna, the gopis were more interested in hearing the message than in hearing about their exalted position. They did not very much like being praised for their high position. They showed their anxiety to hear the message which Uddhava had brought from Krishna.” (Krishna, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Volume 1, Chapter 46)

Download as podcast episode (right click and save)

1. You won the sweepstakes

“Good afternoon, are you such and such? Well, we have some news that might just brighten your day. Along with my trusted assistant here, I am presenting you with this giant check. Would you please hold it up and pose for a picture? This is not a prank. We are totally serious. You are the winner. Remember all of those mailings we sent out? Many people accuse us of being a scam. You took us seriously. You sent back the card that was included. We were not lying when we said that you may be the winner of a large sum of money. We are here to make good on that promise. Today is your lucky day!”

2. You are being inducted into the hall of fame

“Good afternoon, are you such and such? I am here representing the nominating committee. This gentlemen behind me should be familiar to you, as he was your coach in the professional leagues for most of your career. You might have guessed it by now. I am here to officially welcome you into the hall of fame. You will be formally inducted in the ceremony at the museum next summer. How do you feel? Well, never mind as I can tell by the joy on your face. Yes, go ahead and shed a tear or two. This is indeed a big deal. You earned it. We are so happy for you.”

3. You are the topmost yogi

In this hypothetical situation, you have been practicing bhakti-yoga for a long time. It was just what you needed, right when you were struggling most in life. Lost, lacking direction, and perpetually depressed over guaranteed sadness, it is like you were living in the place of grief. Years later, you would come across a couplet from a wonderful Vaishnava poet who roamed this earth several hundred years before. That rhyming verse would appropriately depict the experience you personally witnessed, through the Sanskrit of “shokadhama.”

तब लगि कुसल न जीव कहुँ सपनेहुँ मन बिश्राम
जब लगि भजत न राम कहुँ सोकधाम तजि काम

taba lagi kusala na jīva kahum̐ sapanehum̐ mana biśrāma
jaba lagi bhajata na rāma kahum̐ sokadhāma taji kāma

“For as long as there is not devotion to Shri Rama and the release of material desires, which are like an abode of grief, the living being should not expect to find welfare and peace of mind, even in a dream.” (Dohavali, 131)

You were beginning to notice the pattern. Practically everyone was in grief. They just found different ways to deal with it. Most of those ways were not healthy. Drugs. Alcohol. Running from this interest to that. Marrying and divorcing two and three times. Finding different paramours. Purchasing an expensive vehicle. Desperate to replace what was lost, you began to wonder about the meaning to it all. Just why are we here if we have to leave?

You were fortunate to then have contact with a modern translation and commentary of the sacred text known as Bhagavad-gita. In the first reading, you did not understand much of the higher principles, but the beginning portion really hit home. The work can be characterized as a conversation between two friends, who briefly turned into teacher and student. When first reading this work, you were certainly the student. The teacher helped you out so much by acknowledging your struggles and confirming that everyone here has a difficult time.

ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः
मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति

mamaivāṃśo jīvaloke jīvabhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ
manaḥṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛtisthāni karṣati

“The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, which include the mind.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 15.7)

You then followed through on the recommendations. Slowly, but steadily, you began to chant the holy names: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. You started to interact with like-minded individuals. Your output in devotional efforts began to increase. You were less interested in the temporary. You were more focused on transcendence. Most importantly, you were becoming happier. That frown turned upside down. This was all due to proper association. This was all because of the helping hand of the spiritual guide. You felt like the bhagyavan jiva once described by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

ब्रह्माण्ड भ्रमिते कोन भाग्यवान् जीव
गुरु-कृष्ण-प्रसादे पाय भक्ति-लता-बीज

brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva
guru-kṛṣṇa-prasāde pāya bhakti-latā-bīja

“According to their karma, all living entities are wandering throughout the entire universe. Some of them are being elevated to the upper planetary systems, and some are going down into the lower planetary systems. Out of many millions of wandering living entities, one who is very fortunate gets an opportunity to associate with a bona fide spiritual master by the grace of Krishna. By the mercy of both Krishna and the spiritual master, such a person receives the seed of the creeper of devotional service.” (Chaitanya Charitamrita, Madhya 19.151)

After all this, imagine that one day someone approaches you. It is a stranger, but they carry a message. You are being informed that you are one of the best devotees to ever live. The assessment is from that very object of worship. The person whose name you have been chanting. The one to whom you brought your offerings, prepared with love. The individual that you revere and never want to let go of. That person thinks highly of you. Just how would you feel, in return? Just what would your response be?

Indeed, something similar once took place, in real life. In the sacred land of Vrindavana, during the time of the lila of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna. He was separated from one set of devotees. He had previously spent time with them. They were so devoted to Him. They thought of Him, constantly. They risked personal reputation in order to meet with Him. They were so exalted that Krishna felt the need to acknowledge their devotion.

Krishna sent a message along with His trusted friend and cousin named Uddhava. The gopis received that message from Uddhava. They heard about their glories. They were told about their rare standing in the practice of yoga. Amazingly, the gopis were not interested. It is not like they were ecstatic about surpassing others in a competition. They never knew there was a competition. Their only concern was Krishna. They wanted to hear more about Him. It is no wonder, then, that the wise consider the gopis of Vrindavana, who are ordinary cowherd girls, to be at the highest standard of transcendental life.

In Closing:

To highest standard reaching,
By their example teaching.

How not really competition at all,
When Krishna most beloved to call.

Even when honorary kindly bestowed,
Interest only for welfare showed.

That their beloved happy and well,
Uddhava more stories should tell.

Categories: the three

Tags: bhakti, dailyprompt, gopis, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry, yoga