Lord Krishna, His Lilas and Teachings

Ekasloki Bhagavatam

(Bhagavata in One Verse)

आदौ देवकिदेविगर्भजननं गोपीगृहे वर्धनं

मायापूतनजीवितापहरणं गोवर्धनोद्धारणम्‌।

कंसच्छेदनकौरवादिहननं कुन्तीसुतापालनं

एतद्भागवतं पुराणकथितं श्रीकृष्णलीलामृतम्‌॥

ādau devakidevigarbhajananaṁ gopīgṛhe vardhanaṁ

māyāpūtanajīvitāpaharaṇaṁ govardhanoddhāraṇam |

kaṁsacchedanakauravādihananaṁ kuntīsutāpālanaṁ

etadbhāagavataṁ purāṇakathitaṁ śrīkṛṣṇalīlāmṛtam ||

In days of yore, the Lord, born of Devaki’s womb, brought up in the house of Gopi (Yasoda), killed the wicked Putana of illusive form, and lifted the Govardhana hill, killed Kamsa and the sons of the Kuru race and protected the sons of Kunti. Thus is recited the essence of the ancient Bhagavata Purana consisting of the nectarine stories of the deeds of Lord Krishna.

Chatuhsloki Bhagavatam

ज्ञानं परमगुह्यं मे यद्विज्ञानसमन्वितम्‌।

सरहस्यं तदंगं च गृहाण गदितं मया॥

jñānaṁ paramaguhyaṁ me yadvijñānasamanvitam |

sarahasyaṁ tadaṁgaṁ ca gṛhāṇa gaditaṁ mayā ||

(a) Hear from Me the most secret knowledge coupled with the essential experience and its component parts.

यावानहं यथाभावो यद्रूपगुणकर्मकः।

तथैव तत्त्वविज्ञानमस्तु ते मदनुग्रहात्‌॥

yāvānahaṁ yathābhāvo yadrūpaguṇakarmakaḥ |

tathaiva tattvavijñānamastu te madanugrahāt ||

(b) May you realise by My Grace the knowledge of Myself and what form, qualities and actions I am endowed with.

अहमेवासमेवाग्रे नान्यद्यात्सदसत्परम्‌।

पश्चादहं यदेतच्च योऽवशिष्येत सोऽस्म्यहम्‌॥

ahamevāsamevāgre nānyadyātsadasatparam |

paścādahaṁ yadetacca yo'vaśiṣyeta so'smyaham ||

1. Before the creation I alone existed. There was nothing, Sat or Asat (existence or non-existence). I am That which remains after dissolution.

ऋतेऽर्थं यत्प्रतीयेत प्रतीयेत चात्मनि।

तद्विद्यादात्मनो मायां यथाभासो यथा तमः॥

ṛte'rthaṁ yatpratīyeta pratīyeta cātmani |

tadvidyādātmano māyāṁ yathābhāso yathā tamaḥ ||

2. Understand that to be Maya or illusion which is devoid of any purpose, which is not to be found in the Self and which is unreal like light and darkness.

यथा महान्ति भूतानि भूतेषूच्चावचेष्वनु।

प्रविष्टान्यप्रविष्टानि तथा तेषु न तेष्वहम्‌॥

yathā mahānti bhūtāni bhūteṣūccāvaceṣvanu |

praviṣṭānyapraviṣṭāni tathā teṣu na teṣvaham ||

3. As the primary elements are amalgamated, with one another and also separate from one another at the same time, so I pervade the whole universe and am also separate from it.

एतावदेव जिज्ञास्यं तत्त्वजिज्ञासुनाऽऽमनः।

अन्वयव्यतिरेकाभ्यां यस्यात्सर्वत्र सर्वदा॥

etāvadeva jijñāsyaṁ tattvajijñāsunā''manaḥ |

anvayavyatirekābhyāṁ yasyātsarvatra sarvadā ||

4. The aspirants should, by the methods of Anvaya-Vyatireka (positive and negative), know that thing which exists always and everywhere.

एतन्मतं समातिष्ठ परमेण समाधिना।

भवान्कल्पविकल्पेषु न विमुह्यति कर्हिचित्‌॥

etanmataṁ samātiṣṭha parameṇa samādhinā |

bhavānkalpavikalpeṣu na vimuhyati karhicit ||

(c) Experience this Truth through the highest Samadhi so that you will not be disturbed even by illusory objects.

Salutations to Lord Krishna

(From Gopalatapani Upanishad)

नमो विश्वस्वरूपाय विश्वस्थित्यन्तहेतवे।

विश्वेश्वराय विश्वाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः॥ १॥

namo viśvasvarūpāya viśvasthityantahetave |

viśveśvarāya viśvāya govindāya namo namaḥ || 1 ||

1. To Thee O Govinda, who is of the form of this universe, who is the cause of its preservation and destruction, who is its Lord, nay, who is the universe itself—I prostrate.

नमो विज्ञानरूपाय परमानन्दरूपिणे।

कृष्णाय गोपीनाथाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः॥ २॥

namo vijñānarūpāya paramānandarūpiṇe |

kṛṣṇāya gopīnāthāya govindāya namo namaḥ || 2 ||

2. Salutations to Sri Krishna or Govinda, the Lord of the Gopis, who is an embodiment of Knowledge and Supreme Bliss.

नमः कमलनेत्राय नमः कमलमालिने।

नमः कमलनाभाय कमलापतये नमः॥ ३॥

namaḥ kamalanetrāya namaḥ kamalamāline |

namaḥ kamalanābhāya kamalāpataye namaḥ || 3 ||

3. Prostrations to Sri Krishna with lotus-like eyes, the Lord of Lakshmi, who wears a garland of lotuses, who has a lotus sprung from His navel.

बर्हापीडाभिरामाय रामायाकुण्ठमेधमे।

रमामानसहंसाय गोविन्दाय नमो नमः॥ ४॥

barhāpīḍābhirāmāya rāmāyākuṇṭhamedhame |

ramāmānasahaṁsāya govindāya namo namaḥ || 4 ||

4. To Thee, O Govinda or Rama, who art the swan in the mind-lake of Lakshmi, whose decorated crown of peacock-feathers delights the hearts of men, who possesses an unfailing intellect—I prostrate.

कंसवंशविनाशाय केशिचाणूरघातिने।

वृषभध्वजवन्द्याय पार्थसारथंये नमः॥ ५॥

kaṁsavaṁśavināśāya keśicāṇūraghātine |

vṛṣabhadhvajavandyāya pārthasārathaṁye namaḥ || 5 ||

5. Prostrations unto Thee, O charioteer of Arjuna, the destroyer of Kesi and Chanura, the destroyer of the entire family of Kamsa, who is worshipped by Lord Siva who has the bull as His emblem.

वेणुनादविनोदाय गोपालायाहिमर्दिने।

कालिन्दीकूललोलाय लोलकुण्डलधारिणे॥ ६॥

veṇunādavinodāya gopālāyāhimardine |

kālindīkūlalolāya lolakuṇḍaladhāriṇe || 6 ||

6. Salutations unto Sri Krishna, the protector of cows, who destroyed the pride of serpent Kaaliya, who delights the hearers with His melodious flute, who wears beautiful ear-rings (Kundala) and who plays joyfully on the banks of Kaalindi (Yamuna).

वल्लवीवदनांभोजमालिने नृत्यशालिने।

नमः प्रणतपालाय श्रीकृष्णाय नमो नमः॥ ७॥

vallavīvadanāṁbhojamāline nṛtyaśāline |

namaḥ praṇatapālāya śrīkṛṣṇāya namo namaḥ || 7 ||

7. I prostrate to Sri Krishna who delights the Gopis who surround Him like so many lotuses with beautiful faces, with His elevating dances and who protects those who take refuge in Him.

नमः पापप्रणाशाय गोवर्धनधराय च।

पूतनाजीवितान्ताय तृणावर्तासुहारिणे॥ ८॥

namaḥ pāpapraṇāśāya govardhanadharāya ca |

pūtanājīvitāntāya tṛṇāvartāsuhāriṇe || 8 ||

8. To Thee, O destroyer of sins, the lifter of Govardhana hill, who destroyed the wicked Putana and the great demon Trinavarta—I prostrate.

निष्कलाय विमोहाय शुद्धायाशुद्धवैरिणे।

अद्वितीयाय महते श्रीकृष्णाय नमो नमः॥ ९॥

niṣkalāya vimohāya śuddhāyāśuddhavairiṇe |

advitīyāya mahate śrīkṛṣṇāya namo namaḥ || 9 ||

9. Salutations unto Sri Krishna, the supreme Non-dual Being, who is ever pure, who is free from delusion, who is without parts, and who is the enemy of the impure-minded.

प्रसीद परमानन्द प्रसीद परमेश्वर।

आधिव्याधिभुजङ्गेन दष्टं मामुद्धर प्रभो॥ १०॥

prasīda paramānanda prasīda parameśvara |

ādhivyādhibhujaṅgena daṣṭaṁ māmuddhara prabho || 10 ||

10. Be gracious, O Bliss Absolute! Be pleased, O Supreme Lord! Heal me, O Lord, who am bitten by the venomous cobra of mental and bodily afflictions.

श्रीकृष्ण रुक्मिणीकान्त गोपीजनमनोहर।

संसारसागरे मग्नं मामुद्धर जगद्‌गुरो॥ ११॥

śrīkṛṣṇa rukmiṇīkānta gopījanamanohara |

saṁsārasāgare magnaṁ māmuddhara jagadguro || 11 ||

11. Sri Krishna, the Lord of Rukmini, O World-Teacher! The enchanter of the hearts of Gopis, O Lord, lift me up from this ocean of births and deaths (Samsara).

केशव क्लेशहरण नारायण जनार्दन।

गोविन्द परमानन्द मा समुद्धर माधव॥ १२॥

keśava kleśaharaṇa nārāyaṇa janārdana |

govinda paramānanda mā samuddhara mādhava || 12 ||

12. O Kesava, the destroyer of afflictions, O Narayana, O Janardana (to whom people pray for help), O Govinda, O bliss absolute, O Lord of Lakshmi, guide me, protect me.

Sri Krishnashtottarasatanamastotram

श्रीकृष्णष्टोत्तरशतनामस्तोत्रम्‌

śrīkṛṣṇaṣṭottaraśatanāmastotram

श्रीकृष्णः कमलनाथो वासुदेवः सनातनः।

वसुदेवात्मजः पुण्यो लीलामानुषविग्रहः॥ १॥

śrīkṛṣṇaḥ kamalanātho vāsudevaḥ sanātanaḥ |

vasudevātmajaḥ puṇyo līlāmānuṣavigrahaḥ || 1 ||

श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभधरो यशोदावत्सलो हरिः।

चतुर्भुजात्तचक्रासिगदाशंखाद्युदायुधः॥ २॥

śrīvatsakaustubhadharo yaśodāvatsalo hariḥ |

caturbhujāttacakrāsigadāśaṁkhādyudāyudhaḥ || 2 ||

देवकीनन्दनः श्रीशो नन्दगोपप्रियात्मजः।

यमुनावेगसंहरी बलभद्रप्रियानुजः॥ ३॥

devakīnandanaḥ śrīśo nandagopapriyātmajaḥ |

yamunāvegasaṁharī balabhadrapriyānujaḥ || 3 ||

पूतनाजीवितहरः शकटासुरभञ्जनः।

नन्दव्रजजनानन्दी सच्चिदानन्दविग्रहः॥ ४॥

pūtanājīvitaharaḥ śakaṭāsurabhañjanaḥ |

nandavrajajanānandī saccidānandavigrahaḥ || 4 ||

नवनीतविलिप्तांगो नवनीतनटोऽनघः

नवनीतनवाहारो मुचुकुन्दप्रसादकः॥ ५॥

navanītaviliptāṁgo navanītanaṭo'naghaḥ

navanītanavāhāro mucukundaprasādakaḥ || 5 ||

षोडशस्त्रीसहस्रेशः त्रिभंगी मधुराकृतिः।

शुकवागमृताब्धीन्दुर्गोविन्दो योगिनां पतिः॥ ६॥

ṣoḍaśastrīsahasreśaḥ tribhaṁgī madhurākṛtiḥ |

śukavāgamṛtābdhīndurgovindo yogināṁ patiḥ || 6 ||

वत्सवाटचरोऽनन्तो धेनुकासुरभञ्जनः।

तृणीकृततृणावर्तो यमलार्जुनभञ्जनः॥ ७॥

vatsavāṭacaro'nanto dhenukāsurabhañjanaḥ |

tṛṇīkṛtatṛṇāvarto yamalārjunabhañjanaḥ || 7 ||

उत्तालतालभेत्ता च तमालश्यामलाकृतिः।

गोपगोपीश्वरो योगी कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभः॥ ८॥

uttālatālabhettā ca tamālaśyāmalākṛtiḥ |

gopagopīśvaro yogī koṭisūryasamaprabhaḥ || 8 ||

इलापतिः परंज्योतिर्यादवेन्द्रो यदूद्वहः।

वनमाली पीतवासाः पारिजाताऽपहारकः॥ ९॥

ilāpatiḥ paraṁjyotiryādavendro yadūdvahaḥ |

vanamālī pītavāsāḥ pārijātā'pahārakaḥ || 9 ||

गोवर्धनाचलोद्धर्ता गोपालः सर्वपालकः।

अजो निरञ्जनः कामजनकः कञ्जलोचनः॥ १०॥

govardhanācaloddhartā gopālaḥ sarvapālakaḥ |

ajo nirañjanaḥ kāmajanakaḥ kañjalocanaḥ || 10 ||

मधुहा मथुरानाथो द्वारकानायको बली।

वृन्दावनान्तःसञ्चारी तुलसीदामभूषणः॥ ११॥

madhuhā mathurānātho dvārakānāyako balī |

vṛndāvanāntaḥsañcārī tulasīdāmabhūṣaṇaḥ || 11 ||

स्यमन्तकमणेर्हर्ता नरनारायणात्मकः।

कुब्जाकृष्णाम्वरधरो मायी परमपूरुषः॥ १२॥

syamantakamaṇerhartā naranārāyaṇātmakaḥ |

kubjākṛṣṇāmvaradharo māyī paramapūruṣaḥ || 12 ||

मुष्टिकासुरचाणूरमल्लयुद्धविशारदः।

संसारवैरी कंसारिर्मुरारिर्नरकान्तकः॥ १३॥

muṣṭikāsuracāṇūramallayuddhaviśāradaḥ |

saṁsāravairī kaṁsārirmurārirnarakāntakaḥ || 13 ||

अनादिब्रह्मचारी च कृष्णाव्यसनकर्षकः।

शिशुपालशिरच्छेत्ता दुर्योधनकुलान्तकः॥ १४॥

anādibrahmacārī ca kṛṣṇāvyasanakarṣakaḥ |

śiśupālaśiracchettā duryodhanakulāntakaḥ || 14 ||

विदुराक्रूरवरदो विश्वरूपप्रदर्शकः।

सत्यवाक्‌ सत्यसंकल्पः सत्यभामारतो जयी॥ १५॥

vidurākrūravarado viśvarūpapradarśakaḥ |

satyavāk satyasaṁkalpaḥ satyabhāmārato jayī || 15 ||

सुभद्रापूर्वजो विष्णुः भीष्ममुक्तिप्रदायकः।

जगद्‌गुरुर्जगन्नाथो वेणुनादविशारदः॥ १६॥

subhadrāpūrvajo viṣṇuḥ bhīṣmamuktipradāyakaḥ |

jagadgururjagannātho veṇunādaviśāradaḥ || 16 ||

वृषभासुरविध्वंसी बाणासुरकरान्तकः।

युधिष्ठिरप्रतिष्ठाता बर्हिबर्हावतंसकः॥ १७॥

vṛṣabhāsuravidhvaṁsī bāṇāsurakarāntakaḥ |

yudhiṣṭhirapratiṣṭhātā barhibarhāvataṁsakaḥ || 17 ||

पार्थसारथिरव्यक्तो गीतामृतमहोदधिः।

कालीयफणमाणिक्यरञ्जितश्रीपदाम्बुजः॥ १८॥

pārthasārathiravyakto gītāmṛtamahodadhiḥ |

kālīyaphaṇamāṇikyarañjitaśrīpadāmbujaḥ || 18 ||

दामोदरो यज्ञभोक्ता दानवेन्द्रविनाशकः।

नारायणः परब्रह्म पन्नगाशनवाहनः॥ १९॥

dāmodaro yajñabhoktā dānavendravināśakaḥ |

nārāyaṇaḥ parabrahma pannagāśanavāhanaḥ || 19 ||

जलक्रीडासमासक्तगोपीवस्त्रापहारकः।

पुण्यश्लोकस्तीर्थपादो वेदवेद्यो दयानिधिः॥ २०॥

jalakrīḍāsamāsaktagopīvastrāpahārakaḥ |

puṇyaślokastīrthapādo vedavedyo dayānidhiḥ || 20 ||

सर्वतीर्थात्मकः सर्वग्रहरूपी परात्परः।

एवं श्रीकृष्णदेवस्य नाम्नामष्टोत्तरं शतम्‌॥ २१॥

sarvatīrthātmakaḥ sarvagraharūpī parātparaḥ |

evaṁ śrīkṛṣṇadevasya nāmnāmaṣṭottaraṁ śatam || 21 ||

कृष्णनामामृतन्नाम परमानन्दकारकम्‌।

अत्युपद्रवदोषघ्नं परमायुष्यवर्धनम्‌॥ २२॥

kṛṣṇanāmāmṛtannāma paramānandakārakam |

atyupadravadoṣaghnaṁ paramāyuṣyavardhanam || 22 ||

॥ इति श्रीकृष्णाष्टोत्तरशतनामस्तोत्रं संपूर्णम्‌॥

|| iti śrīkṛṣṇāṣṭottaraśatanāmastotraṁ saṁpūrṇam ||

The Song of Sweetness

(To be sung in the same tune as the Sanskrit Madhurashtakam)

मधुराष्टकम्‌

madhurāṣṭakam

अधरं मधुरं वदनं मधुरं नयनं मधुरं हसितं मधुरम्‌।

हृदयं मधुरं गमनं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ १॥

adharaṁ madhuraṁ vadanaṁ madhuraṁ nayanaṁ madhuraṁ hasitaṁ madhuram |

hṛdayaṁ madhuraṁ gamanaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 1 ||

Sweet are His lips and His mien is sweet.

Sweet are His eyes as His smiles are sweet.

Sweet is His heart as His bearing is sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

वचनं मधुरं चरितं मधुरं वसनं मधुरं वलितं मधुरम्‌।

चलितं मधुरं भ्रमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ २॥

vacanaṁ madhuraṁ caritaṁ madhuraṁ vasanaṁ madhuraṁ valitaṁ madhuram |

calitaṁ madhuraṁ bhramitaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 2 ||

Sweet are His words as His actions are sweet.

Sweet is His dress as His posture is sweet.

Sweet is His gait as His gestures are sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

वेणुर्मधुरो रेणुर्मधुरो वाणी मधुरा पादौ मधुरौ।

नृत्यं मधुरं सख्यं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ ३॥

veṇurmadhuro reṇurmadhuro vāṇī madhurā pādau madhurau |

nṛtyaṁ madhuraṁ sakhyaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 3 ||

Sweet is His flute and His foot-dust is sweet.

Sweet are His hands, as His blue feet are sweet.

Sweet is His dance and His friendship is sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

गीतं मधुरं पीतं मधुरं भुक्तं मधुरं सुप्तं मधुरम्‌।

रूपं मधुरं तिलकं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ ४॥

gītaṁ madhuraṁ pītaṁ madhuraṁ bhuktaṁ madhuraṁ suptaṁ madhuram |

rūpaṁ madhuraṁ tilakaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 4 ||

Sweet is His song and His pure drink is sweet.

Sweet is His food and His sleeping is sweet.

Sweet is His charm as His forehead is sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

करणं मधुरं तरणं मधुरं हरनं मधुरं रमणं मधुरम्‌।

वमितं मधुरं शमितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ ५॥

karaṇaṁ madhuraṁ taraṇaṁ madhuraṁ haranaṁ madhuraṁ ramaṇaṁ madhuram |

vamitaṁ madhuraṁ śamitaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 5 ||

Sweet are His limbs as His sporting is sweet.

Sweet are His guiles as His pranks are sweet.

Sweet is His mouth and His resting is sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

गुञ्जा मधुरा माला मधुरा यमुना मधुरा वीची मधुरा।

सलिलं मधुरं कमलं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ ६॥

guñjā madhurā mālā madhurā yamunā madhurā vīcī madhurā |

salilaṁ madhuraṁ kamalaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 6 ||

Sweet is His pearl and His garland is sweet.

Sweet is Yamuna and Her rippling is sweet.

Sweet is the stream and the lotus is sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

गोपी मधुरा लीला मधुरा युक्तं मधुरं मुक्तं मधुरम्‌।

दृष्टं मधुरं शिष्टं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ ७॥

gopī madhurā līlā madhurā yuktaṁ madhuraṁ muktaṁ madhuram |

dṛṣṭaṁ madhuraṁ śiṣṭaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 7 ||

Sweet are His maids and His frolics are sweet.

Sweet is His love and His parting is sweet.

Sweet are His pets and His leavings are sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

गोपा मधुरा गावो मधुरा यष्टिर्मधुरा सृष्टिर्मधुरा।

दलितं मधुरं फलितं मधुरं मधुराधिपतेरखिलं मधुरम्‌॥ ८॥

gopā madhurā gāvo madhurā yaṣṭirmadhurā sṛṣṭirmadhurā |

dalitaṁ madhuraṁ phalitaṁ madhuraṁ madhurādhipaterakhilaṁ madhuram || 8 ||

Sweet are His mates and His cows are sweet.

Sweet is His staff as His creation is sweet.

Sweet is His wrath as His graces are sweet.

The Lord of sweetness is entirely sweet.

Lord Sri Krishna is entirely sweet.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya.

Introduction

Lord Krishna—The Supreme Lord

Salutations to Lord Krishna, the Supreme Lord, who is the Indweller of our hearts, who is Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, Bliss Absolute, who is the Soul of this universe, who bestows Immortality on His devotees, who is the source for everything and who took a human form for the benefit of the gods and His devotees, to destroy wickedness and to establish righteousness.

I bow to that Para Brahman, the Supreme Self, from whom is born this mysterious universe, by whom alone it is upheld, and in whom alone it is dissolved, who is Lord Krishna Himself.

Lord Krishna was the highest incarnation of the great Vishnu. He was the unique and crowning incarnation of all. He was the Purna Avatara, the Perfect Incarnation. He had sixteen Kalas or rays. He was a noble scion of the illustrious Yadava dynasty. He was a world-teacher. He was the one Lord of love. He was a lover of men. His divine form holds the heart of India captive in chains even today.

The Bhagavata, the Mahabharata, the Vishnu Purana—all proclaim with one voice that there was none to match Sri Krishna in beauty and elegance of form in all the three worlds.

His enchanting form with flute in hand is worshipped in the myriad homes of India. It is a form to which is poured out devotion and supreme love from the hearts of countless devotees not only in India but also in the West.

He was a noble embodiment of all the great qualities of head and heart. He was the towering genius of His age. He was a great historical figure. His sports of childhood contain countless object-lessons for all thinking men. He was a glorious and extraordinary personality.

Every word of Lord Krishna’s teachings and every act of His is full of sublime and grand object-lessons of momentous import to humanity in a variety of ways.

Worship of Sri Krishna has been practised in India from the very commencement of the world’s culture. It is a part of the Veda itself. It is not a new cult. Sri Krishna has become the most common object of worship in the whole of India. Even in Latvia (Europe) hundreds of ladies worship Sri Krishna and repeat His Mantra—OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA.

Lord Krishna was great in knowledge, great in emotion, great in action, altogether. The scriptures have not recorded any life more full, more intense, more sublime, more grand than His.

Though Lord Krishna appeared in human form, He had an Aprakritika, divine body. He did not take any birth. He did not die. He appeared and disappeared through His Yoga Maya. This is a secret, known only to His devotees, Yogis and sages.

Lord Krishna has played various parts during His stay in the world. He drove the chariot of Arjuna. He was an unparalleled statesman. He was a master musician. He gave lessons to Narada in the art of playing the Vina. The music of His flute thrilled the hearts of the Gopis and of all. He was a cowherd in Nandagaon and Gokul. He exhibited miracles even when he was a child and a boy. He killed many Rakshasas. He showed Visvaroopa to His mother. He did Rasalila, the secrets of which can only be understood by devotees like Narada, Radha, the Gopis and Sri Gouranga. He taught the supreme truths of Yoga, Bhakti and Vedanta to Arjuna and Uddhava. He had mastery over the sixty-four arts. That is why He is regarded as an Avatara with sixteen Kalas or powers.

Avatara

Avataras appear for special reasons in special circumstances. Whenever there is much unrighteousness, whenever confusion and disorder set in on account of unrighteousness and baffle the well-ordered progress of people, whenever the balance of human society is upset by selfish, ruthless and cruel beings, whenever irreligion and Adharma prevail, whenever the foundations of social organisations are undermined, Avataras appear to establish Dharma and to restore peace.

Avatara is a descent of God for the ascent of man. A ray from the Hiranyagarbha descends on earth with mighty powers to keep up the harmony of the universe. The work done by the Avataras and their teachings produce a benign spiritual influence on human beings and help them in their upward divine unfoldment and Self-realisation.

The Avatara comes to reveal the divine nature in man and makes him rise above the petty materialistic life of passion and egoism.

Greatest manifestations are called Avataras proper. Avesha, Amsa (partial) and Kala Avataras, Rishis, Munis, Prophets, Messiahs, Sons of God, messengers of God are minor manifestations.

The Avataras usually come with their particular favourite groups or companions. Lord Rama came with Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna. Lord Krishna came with Balarama, the Devas and Rishis. Sanaka came with Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and Sanatana.

Some like Sri Sankara, Ramanuja, come as teachers and spiritual leaders. Some, like Chaitanya, are born to instil devotion in the hearts of people and turn their minds towards God. Avataras proper like Krishna come only when there is wide spread catastrophe in the land.

Many Avataras have discharged one function, but Krishna’s activities were many-sided. Hence He is styled as Purnavatara, or the Complete Incarnation.

Krishna in the Puranas

Agni, Brahma, Padma, Brahma-Vaivarta, Vishnu and Bhagavata Puranas treat of the life of Krishna. The Brahma and Padma Puranas have devoted several chapters to this subject. Brahma-Vaivarta, Vishnu, and Bhagavata Puranas have devoted whole sections and books to the description of Krishna-Charita.

Radha plays an important part in the growth of later Vaishnavism. No mention of Radha is made in the Vishnu and the Bhagavata Puranas. It is in the Padma as well as in the Brahma-Vaivarta that a detailed account of the Radha cult, the real nature of Radha and Her companions, their names, their mystical significance, their relation with Sri Krishna in the Rasa Lila is given. In the Brahma-Vaivarta Purana great importance to the Radha element in the Krishna worship is given. In the Vishnu and the Bhagavata Puranas the philosophical aspects of Sri Krishna and His worship are dealt with.

His Life

Lord Krishna was Lila-Purushothama, the sportive form of God. He was a Yogeshvara. He was a Prema-Murti. Lord Rama was a Maryada Purushothama. He was an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal friend and an ideal king. He can be taken to embody all the highest ideals of man. He led the ideal life of a householder in order to teach humanity.

Krishna was a man of action. He was a history-maker and righter of wrongs. He stood for justice and righteousness. His policy was to defend the oppressed from the oppressor. He was a master of superphysical powers. He was a man of knowledge and a world-teacher. He was a divine musician. He was the Lord of Yogis. He was the friend of Arjuna and Uddhava. His immortal teachings to Arjuna and Uddhava on Yoga, Bhakti and Jnana are unique. Even now they stir the hearts of the readers and goad them on the spiritual path and instil peace into their hearts.

Lord Krishna was the greatest Karma Yogin of all time. He held up the torch of wisdom. He was an embodiment of wisdom and selfless action. He combined in his life all that is best, highest, purest and the most beautiful, sublime and grand in heaven and earth. He was all love for the cowherd-boys, cows, and the Gopis. He was the friend and benefactor of the poor and the helpless. He was a versatile genius.

Krishna was a thunderbolt to the wrestlers assembled in the arena of Kamsa and yet he had the softest heart among men. He was Yama, Deathcome, unto Kamsa, Cupid unto the Gopis, the object of constant meditation for Yogins and devotees, the form of bliss and beatitude to the sages, and a child to his parents. He was Cupid unto Cupid himself (Sakshat Manmatha-Manmatha).

Lord Krishna was an embodiment of humility, though He was the Lord of the universe. He became the charioteer of Arjuna. He took upon Himself the duty of washing the feet of the visitors, voluntarily, at the time of the Rajasuya Yajna performed by Yudhishthira.

The Bhagavata Purana says that Sri Krishna lived for 125 years on earth (XI-vi. 25).

Student Life

Sri Krishna received his instructions from Sandipani, a sage of Avantipura. He lived with his teacher like an ordinary student. He was meek, humble and obedient. He led a laborious life. He gathered fuel from the woods for his preceptor’s household. He inspired his classmates with love. Sudama was Sri Krishna’s classmate. Sudama was later on known by the name of Kuchela.

Sri Krishna had wonderful retentive memory. If he heard anything once, he would retain it in memory, however difficult it might be. He mastered the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days.

He was matchless in physical strength. He learnt the art of archery and military science under his teacher. When his school career was over, at the request of his teacher, he rescued his teacher’s son from Panchajanya, a sea-monster, by whom the boy had been carried away. Krishna slew Panchajanya and took away his conch ‘Panchajanya’, rescued the boy from Yama, and handed him over to his teacher.

Embodiment of Mercy

Lord Krishna appeared as Para-Brahman before the sages, as the supreme Reality before the Yogis, as the Lord of Beauty before the Gopis, as Warrior before the warriors, as a child before Vasudeva and Devaki, as the Lord of Death before Kamsa, as King of kings (Samrat) before the kings, according to the view and understanding of the seer or subject. The object is the same. It appears different according to the view-point of the beholder.

Lord Krishna is styled as one who steals butter, because he used to eat butter stealthily in the houses of the Gopis on account of his extreme love for them. But he really steals the evil thoughts of devotees and fills their minds with divine thoughts. This stealing of butter was a sort of sport (Lila) when he was a boy, to instil delight in the hearts of the Gopis who were His devotees. The Gopis liked this immensely. They were eagerly expecting Krishna to come and eat their butter. He really steals or captivates the hearts of His devotees, makes them forget the world, draws their minds towards His blessed feet and makes them enjoy everlasting peace and bliss. He steals the letter Da in the feeling Dasoham (I am servant) of devotees and make them feel the right significance of Soham (I am He), or their identity with the Supreme Self. Lord Krishna says in the Gita, I give My devotees the Yoga of discrimination. (Chapter IX-10.) How merciful is Lord Krishna! Glory to Him and His Name!!

He had the Bhava of mother even for Puthana who came to kill Him and gave her salvation. He gave salvation even to His bitterest enemies, Kamsa and Sisupala who insulted Him openly in the Rajasuya Yajna. Then what to speak of those who are highly devoted to Him?

Once Sri Krishna said to his wife Rukmini, Princess, you have not done well in marrying me after rejecting the offers of great potentates and kings. I have no kingdom. I live out of fear in a city on the shore of the sea. My character and conduct is peculiar and not according to the general usage. Very few understand me. The wives of men like myself always meet with miseries. I love to associate with the poor and the fallen, and therefore the rich do not like to meet men like me. I have no attachment for wife, children, wealth, or luxury. Men like me live contented with their own selves. Therefore, O Princess of Vidarbha! You have made a mistake in marrying me.

This little speech will tell us the greatness of Lord Krishna. He was extremely kind and merciful towards the meek and the humble.

A Great Warrior

Lord Krishna was an undaunted warrior even from his twelfth year. He being annointed by Kubja and garlanded by Sudama, a flower-seller, entered the place of sacrifice in Dhanuryajna performed by Kamsa and broke the great bow. Kamsa sent an elephant named Kuvalayapeeda to kill Krishna. Krishna killed the elephant and entered the arena. Then he killed the chosen athletes of Kamsa,