Chaitanya's Life And Teachings Part 13

Here at Shantipur, the Master embraced Adwaita and other _bhaktas_ one by one and said, "Permit me, ye all, to go to Puri. As I have met you all here, you need not go to Puri this year. From this place I will proceed to Brindaban. Grant your permission, so that my journey may be safe." Holding His mother's feet He long entreated her and got her consent to visit Brindaban, and then sent her back to Navadwip.

He then set out for Puri with His followers, being served on the way by the same men as before. On His arrival at Puri there was a bustle in that village: His joyful _bhaktas_ came and were all embraced by Him,--Kas.h.i.+ Mishra, Ramananda, Pradyumna, Sarvabhanma, Vaninath, s.h.i.+khi, Gadadhar Pandit and others. To them He said, "I wanted to go to Brindaban by way of Bengal, after seeing my mother and the Ganges. When I arrived in Bengal a thousand followers gathered round me; myriads of people flocked there to see the fun. The crowd blocked the roads.

Wherever I put up, the houses and walls were broken down by their pressure. Wherever the eye rested there was a sea of heads. With great difficulty I reached the Ramkeli village, where two brothers Rup and Sanatan came to me. They were foremost of devotees, winners of Krishna's grace, outwardly royal ministers and governors, old in knowledge faith and wisdom, and yet behaving as meeker than gra.s.s. Their humility could have pierced a stony (heart). Highly pleased I gave them leave saying, 'It is good to be lowly and curb one's own pride. Soon will Krishna deliver you.' When going away Sanatan spoke a riddle: 'To be followed by a million men is not the right manner of visiting Brindaban.' At that time I did not mind the saying, and next morning reached a village named Kanai's Dancing-hall. Here at night I pondered over Sanatan's dark saying and it struck me, 'He has spoken well. With so many men following me, people will point at me as parading saint-s.h.i.+p. Lonely is that Brindaban, hard to win, difficult of access. I must go there alone or with only one companion.' Madhavendra Puri had gone there all alone, and (hence) had Krishna appeared to him on the pretext of serving him with milk. And I,--I am going there like a travelling showman. It is not fit to visit Brindaban with a host. A pilgrimage thither accords only with solitary travelling. Instead of my going there alone (as is proper), an army is accompanying me beating drums! O Shame on me! O Shame on me! So saying I became unsettled, gave up the journey and returned to thfe Ganges. Leaving my _bhaktas_ at different places I have arrived here with only five or six. Favour me and give me your counsel how I may peacefully go to Brindaban. I have failed to reach Brindaban because I left Gadadhar behind here and thus pained him!" At this Gadadhar in rapture seized the Master's feet and spoke meekly, "Wherever you are, there is Brindaban, there Jamuna, Ganges and all holy places. You are going to Brindaban only to give an object-lesson to men. You will do what your heart likes. The rainy season is coming. Spend these four months at Puri. Thereafter do as you list. Go or stay as you like. Who can prevent you?" The other _bhaktas_ joined in and said, "Gadadhar has voiced our thoughts." Yielding to their wishes, the Master stayed there four months. Pratap Rudra was glad to hear of it. That day Gadadhar feasted the Master and His _bhaktas_. [Text, canto 16.]

[1] The author, however, tells us in canto 1 that Ramananda Ray accompanied the Master to Bhadrak. Remuna is 5 miles west and Bhadrak 28 miles south of Baleshwar.

CHAPTER XV

The Pilgrimage to Brindaban

With the coming of early autumn the Master's mind turned to His pilgrimage. He secretly took counsel with Ramananda and Swarup, saying, "If you two help me, I can visit Brindaban. At night I shall quit my bed and escape by the forest path without taking a single attendant. If any one afterwards seeks to follow me, do you detain him, letting none depart. Mind not the sorrow. Be of good cheer and give me leave. If I leave you pleased, my way-faring will be happy."

The two replied, "You are G.o.d and a free agent; you act your will, subject to none. But listen to one request of ours. You have just now said that our happiness would make you happy. Well, then, Sir, grant this our prayer. You must take a good Brahman with you. He will cook your food and carry your pots. In the forest path you will not meet with any Brahman whose cooking is fit to be eaten. Give us leave to send a Brahman along with you."

The Master replied, "No, I shall take none of my own comrades with me.

If I take one, the others will be grieved. Some sweet-souled stranger may be my companion. I can take one such if I can get him." Swarup suggested, "Here is Balabhadra Bhattacharya, tender to you, a scholar, a pious man and a gentleman. He had come from Bengal with you during your first advent. He wishes to visit all the _tirthas_. He has a Brahman servant; he will do your cooking on the way. We shall all be happy if you take him with you, as then you will feel no hards.h.i.+p in making your way through the forest. The Brahman servant will carry your cloth, water, and pots, while Bhattacharya will cook your food." The Master agreed to it and took Balabhadra Bhattacharya with Him.

The night before, He visited Jagannath and took the G.o.d's leave, and before sunrise He slipped away unperceived. In the morning the _bhaktas_ missed Him and ran about anxiously seeking Him. Swarup stopped them, and they stayed, knowing such to be the Master's wish.

Leaving the beaten track the Master took to by-paths, and pa.s.sing by the left of Katak entered the jungle. In the lonely forest He fared forth, chanting Krishna's name,--elephants and tigers moved away from the path at the sight of Him. In an ecstatic mood He pa.s.sed through herds of tigers, elephants, rhinoceroses and boars. Bhattacharya shrank in terror, but they stepped aside cowed by the Master's power.

One day a tiger was lying across the path. The Master in abstraction trod on it and cried, "Speak Krishna's name!" And lo! the tiger stood up and began to dance, while chanting _Krishna! Krishna!_ Another day He was bathing in the river, when a herd of wild elephants came there to drink. They arrived before Him as He was offering the oblation of water. Bidding them repeat Krishna's name He rushed sprinkling the water on them. Every elephant touched by that water shouted _Krishna_ and danced and ran about in love. Some rolled on the ground, some bellowed, to the marvel of Bhattacharya.

On the way the Master sang _kirtan_ aloud. The deer flocked thither, drawn by His sweet voice, and marched with Him on two sides, while He patted their backs and playfully recited the verses, _Bhagabat_, X. xxi.

11. Just then six or seven tigers came up and joined the deer in accompanying the Master. The sight reminded the Master of Brindaban and He recited the verses descriptive of the virtues of Brindaban.

_Bhagabat_, X. xiii. 55.

When the Master shouted "Chant Krishna's name," the deer and the tigers danced together (peacefully) shout ing Krishna! Krishna! a wonderful sight to Balabhadra Bhattacharya. The tigers and deer embraced and kissed each other, the Master smiling at the fun of it. Leaving them there He went on. The peac.o.c.k and other birds, on seeing Him, proceeded in His company singing _Krishna!_ and dancing like mad. The Master shouted, 'Say _Hari_!' Trees and creepers rejoiced at the sound. To all the animate and inanimate things in the jungle of Chota Nagpur (_Jharikhand_) He communicated the name of Krishna and maddened them with love. In every village that He pa.s.sed through or halted in, all the men were filled with devotion. If one heard the name of Krishna from His lips, he spread it to a second, the second to a third, and so on. All chanted Krishna-Hari's name, danced, wept, and laughed; from one to another the whole land became Vaishnav. Though for fear of drawing a crowd the Master concealed His devotion and gave no outward exhibition of it, yet the very sight of Him, the hearing of His words, and His power made all the people Vaishnpv. Travelling in Central Bengal, East Bengal, West Bengal, and Orissa, He had delivered the people there. Now, on the pretext of a pilgrimage to Mathura, He came to Jharikhand and saved the ruffianly bearish people by teaching them the faith that springs from Krishna's name. The wood suggested Brindaban, every hill looked like Govardhan, every river seemed to Him a Jamuna. There He danced in ecstasy, and fell down weeping.

Bhattacharya gathered all green leaves, roots and fruits wherever he found them on the way. When they halted at a village, six or seven Brahmans would invite Him; one supplied Bhattacharya with rice, another with milk, curds, _ghee_, or sugar. Where there was no Brahman inhabitant, all the Shudra merchants invited Bhattacharya. He cooked the wild vegetables, which delighted the Master. He kept a store of rice to last for three or four days. In the lonely parts of the jungle, where there was no human habitation, Bhattacharya cooked that rice with soup of wild vegetables. The picnic delighted the Master exceedingly and the solitude gratified Him. Bhattacharya served Him as tenderly as a slave, his Brahman carrying the water-pot and clothing. Thrice daily He bathed in the hot springs, twice He warmed Himself by the fire, as fuel was abundant; ever did He move in solitude rapt in love. Feeling the bliss (of such a life) He said, "Much have I travelled, but nowhere have I found any trace of the (alleged) hards.h.i.+ps of journeying in forests.

Pa.s.sing gracious has Krishna been to me: He has directed me to this forest path to give me varied delight. Previously when I had resolved to visit Brindaban after seeing my mother, the Ganges and my _bhaktas_, and taking a party of my followers faith me, and with that aim went to Bengal, and after delighting myself with the sight of those dear ones, I set out joyfully with my followers, a million people joined me. Then Krishna instructed me through the mouth of Sanatan; He hindered that journey and brought me to this forest path. O Ocean of Mercy! gracious unto this humble wretch! There can be no pleasure without thy grace!"

Then embracing Bhattacharya He said, "All this pleasure have I through thy help." But Bhattacharya replied, "You are Krishna, you are the gracious one! I am a despicable being; you have taken pity on me; you have (deigned to) take me with you, and to eat food cooked by me. I am a wretch. But you have enn.o.bled this crow to the rank of _Garuda_. You are G.o.d Himself, a free being!"

Thus did Balabhadra hymn the Master and please His mind by his loving service. Thus enjoying much bliss He reached Benares and bathed at noon at the Mani-Karnika ghat. Tapan Mishra was then bathing there, and felt some surprise on seeing the Master, as he had previously (only) heard of Chaitanya having turned hermit. When the recognition became certain, he was filled with rapture, and wept clasping the Master's feet, but He raised and embraced him. The Mishra guided the Master to the temple of Vishweshwar and Bindu Madhav, and at last brought Him to his own house, where he served Him, danced (in ecstasy) with his garment fluttering, drank with his whole family the was.h.i.+ngs of the Master's feet, fed Him, honoured Balabhadra Bhattacharya, and arranged for his cooking.

After taking His meal the Master lay down, the Mishra's son, Raghu, shampooing His feet. The Mishra family ate the leavings of the Master's plate. Chandra-Shekhar, a scribe of the Vaidya caste, resident in Benares, a friend of the Mishra and a devotee of the Master, came there on hearing of His arrival. As he wept at His feet, Chaitanya lifted up and graciously embraced him. Chandra-Shekhar said, "Great is thy grace, Master that thou hast appeared to thy servant! At my first coming to Benares I used to hear nothing but the words 'illusion' (_maya_) and Brahma. Here nothing was preached except expositions of the six systems of philosophy. Then the Mishra kindly told me of Krishna, and we two meditated ceaselessly on thy feet. Omniscient G.o.d! thou hast appeared to us. Let us both serve thee for some days before thou goest to Brindaban, as we hear." The Mishra added, "Master, during your stay at Kas.h.i.+ do not consent to dine anywhere except in my house." Thus the Master, compelled by His two devotees, stayed there for some ten days against His will. A Maratha Brahman came to see Him, marvelled at His beauty and devotion, and invited Him, but He declined saying that He was already engaged for the day. With the same plea He put him off day after day in fear of some _sannyasis_ joining His company.

Prakashananda used to deliver public lectures on Vedanta to his many pupils. The Maratha Brahman, after having viewed the Master, described Him to Prakashananda thus, "A _sannyasi_ has come here from Jagannath, whose glory and power I cannot adequately describe. Big of limbs, fair as the purest gold, long-armed, lotus-eyed, clad in all the marks of G.o.d-head, as one can see. O, marvel! The sight of Him convinces one that He is Narayan. Whosoever beholds Him chants Krishna's _sankirtan_. All the marks of a great _bhagabat_ as described in the _Bhagabat_ are evident in Him. Ever does His tongue sing Krishna's name, His eyes run tears like the Ganges stream. Now He dances, now laughs, now sings and now weeps, or at times roars like the lion. The world's benefactor is He, named Krishna-Chaitanya. His name, appearance, and virtues, all are matchless. To see Him is to know Him as fas.h.i.+oned in G.o.d's mould.

Hearing will not make one credit this marvellous tale."

The philosopher laughed much and scoffed at the Brahman, saying, "I have heard that there is a _sannyasi_ in Bengal, an emotionalist, a disciple of Keshav Bharati and a fraud on the public. He is named Chaitanya, and with his emotional band he roams over the country dancing. Everyone who sees him calls him G.o.d. Such is his spell, all beholders are bewitched.

I hear that the great scholar Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya has turned mad in this Chaitanya's company. He is a _sannyasi_ in name only, but really a great wizard. But his stock in trade of sentimentality will not sell at Kas.h.i.+! Attend to Vedanta; do not resort to him! The companions.h.i.+p of the wild man will ruin you in life and death." Grieved at these words, the Maratha Brahman left the place appealing to Krishna. His mind having been purged by the Master's sight, he came to Him and unfolded the tale of his sorrow. The Master smiled. The Brahman continued, "When I first mentioned you to him, he said that he knew you. When he uttered your name in the course of his abuse of you, he thrice used the form _Chaitanya_ without adding Krishna! It grieved me to hear him speak your name in such a contemptuous manner. Tell me the reason of his conduct, for my lips uttered Krishna's name as soon as I saw you." The Master replied, "The philosophers who hold the doctrine of illusion sin against Krishna. They constantly prate about _Brahma_, _Atma_ and _Chaitanya_, and cannot utter the name of Krishna, because that is equivalent to Krishna's self. The name, the image, and the self of a G.o.d are all one; there is no distinction between them; the three are of the form of soul's bliss (_chidananda_). Between Krishna's body and personality, between his name and Krishna himself there is no difference. In the case of creatures, no doubt, name, body, and personality are different from one another. _Vide Hari-bhakti-vilas_ xi. 269.

"Therefore Krishna's name, body, and action (_vilas_) cannot be comprehended by the natural senses; they manifest themselves. His name, qualities, and antics are the soul's bliss (_chidananda_) like Krishna's own form. From delight in G.o.d comes the fuller pleasure of appreciating Krishna's actions (_lila_), which attract and conquer the spiritual man. _Vide Bhagabat_, XII. xii. 52.

"From delight in G.o.d comes the fuller pleasure (of relis.h.i.+ng) Krishna's merits, which attract the inmost spirit of the soul. _Vide Bhagabat_, I.

vi. 10. Not to speak of Krishna's feet, even the odour of the _Tulsi_ plant captivates the inmost sense of the soul. _Vide Bhagabat_, III., xv. 43.

"Therefore does Krishna's name fail to rise to his lips; the Illusionists are mere Phenomenalists. He has said that I have come to Kas.h.i.+ with a parcel of sentiments for which there is no customer here, and I must take it all back! Well, how shall I carry away this heavy load? I will sell it here even for a trifle!" So saying and making that Brahman His own, next morning He set out for Mathura. The three followed Him, but He sent them home from a distance. In His absence they used to meet together and sing His praise, mad with love. At Allahabad He bathed in the Triveni, and danced and sang in devotion before the image of Madhav. In rapture at the sight of the Jamuna, He jumped into it, but was hurriedly dragged out by Bhattacharya. Three days He spent thus at Allahabad saving men by imparting to them the love and name of Krishna.

On the way to Mathura wherever He halted, He made the people dance to Krishna's loved name. He now made the people of the West Vaishnavs, as He had formerly done those of the South. Wherever He came to the Jamuna on the way, He leapt into it, senseless with love.

On approaching Mathura, He prostrated Himself in an ecstasy of devotion at the sight of the city. Here He bathed in the Vishram ghat, and bowed to Kesav's image at the place of his nativity. He danced, sang, and shouted in rapture,--men marvelling at his fervour. One Brahman clasped His feet and then began to dance with Him over come with love. Both danced in rapture, embraced each other, and cried _Hari! Krishna!_ with uplifted arms. The spectators shouted _Hari! Hari!_--there was a tumult; the attendant of the image garlanded the Master. Marvelling at the sight of the Master, the people said, "Such beauty and such devotion can never be human. Verily, He is the incarnation of Krishna, come to Mathura to save mankind, because at the sight of Him men are intoxicated with love and laugh weep dance and sing Krishna's name!"

Then the Master took the Brahman apart and asked him secretly, "You are a Brahman, n.o.ble-minded, simple and old. Whence did you acquire such wealth of love?" The man replied, "When Madhavendra Puri came here on his travels, he was pleased to be my guest; he made me his disciple and ate of my cooking. That great soul revealed the (concealed) Gopal, who is wors.h.i.+pped at Govardhan to this day." At this the Master touched his feet, but the Brahman in alarm fell down at the Master's feet. The Master explained, "You are my _guru_, and I am almost a disciple to you.

The _guru_ should not bow to the disciple." The Brahman in fear and surprise asked, "Why do you, a _sannyasi_, use such language? But stay!

Your fervour makes me infer that you are connected with Madhavendra Puri [by the tie of initiation]. He was filled with love of Krishna: nowhere do we find even the savour of such love except jmong those connected with him." Then Bhattacharya explained the Master's relation to the Puri, at which the Brahman began to dance in rapture. He conducted the Master to his own house, and of his own will served Him in many ways. He made Bhattacharya cook the Master's meal, but He smilingly said, "The Puri has dined with you. Do thou feed me. This is an instruction for me.

_Vide Gita_, iii. 21."

Though the Brahman was a _Sanoria_, at whose house _sannyasis_ do not dine, yet the Puri, drawn by his truly Vaishnav behaviour, had initiated and dined with him. Now that the Master begged to eat of his cooking, the Brahman humbly said, "Great is my fortune that I shall feast you.

You are G.o.d, unfettered by rule and practice. But the ignorant will blame you, which I cannot bear to hear." The Master answered, "The _Shruti_, the _Smriti_ and all the sages are not of one opinion, but at variance with one another. The actions of good men are for confirming religion. The Puri's action is the essence of that religion. _Vide Ekadas.h.i.+-tattwa_, Vyas's words:

_'Logical reasoning cannot establish our duty. The Shrutis are conflicting. Not a ris.h.i.+ whose views do not differ from those of others.

The truth of religion is hidden in a cave. Follow therefore the path trodden by good men.'"_

Then the Brahman feasted the Master, to see whom the citizens of Mathura came in _lakhs_. The Master appeared to them outside the house, and with uplifted arms cried "Chant _Hari! Hari!_" The men raised a shout of _Hari!_ and danced mad with love. He bathed at the 24 ghats of the Jamuna, and was shown by that Brahman all the holy sites: Swayambhu, Vishram, Dirgha-Vishnu, Bhuteshwar, Mahavidya, Gokarna, &c.

Wis.h.i.+ng to see the woods, He took the Brahman with Him and visited the Madhu-ban, the Tal-ban, k.u.mud and Bahula, in all of which He sang in a fervour of love. The cows grazing by the way surrounded the Master with loud bellowings, but grew still at the sight of His over flowing devotion, and licked His limbs tenderly. When He became quiet, He rubbed their backs, and they would not leave Him as He advanced. The cowherds stopped them with great difficulty.

His voice drew to Him herds of deer, which gazed at His face, licked His body, and followed Him on the way without fear. The black-bird and the bee sang sweetly on seeing Him; the peac.o.c.ks strutted dancing before Him. At His coming the trees and creepers of Brindaban put forth sprouts (as if they were thrilled) and shed honey like tears. Branches laden with flowers and fruits, bowed to His feet, as friend hastens to greet friend with a present. At the sight of Him, the animate and inanimate things of Brindaban rejoiced, as on meeting with their friend. Seeing their affection the rapt Master played with them all, over come by their influence. Each tree and creeper He embraced; in thought He offered every flower and fruit to Krishna. Weeping, trembling, shaken with love, He shouted, 'Say _Krishna! Krishna!_' The living and the inert shouted _Krishna_ as if echoing His deep voice. Clasping the necks of the deer He wept, while the deer trembled and shed tears. The green parrot with its mate appeared on the branches, and on His wis.h.i.+ng to hear their speech they flew on to His hand and recited verses in praise of Krishna.

_Vide Govinda-lilamrita_, xiii. 29 &c.

Wonder and enthusiasm seized the Master at these words, and the birds flew back to the branch. Delighted He gazed at the dance of the peac.o.c.ks, the neck of the bird reminding Him of Krishna, and He swooned away in rapture. The (local) Brahman and Bhattacharya nursed Him, sprinkled Him with water and fanned Him with His cloth. Loudly they poured Krishna's name into His ears, (at which) He awoke and rolled on the ground. The brambles of the rough jungle path scratched His limbs, but Bhattacharya took Him in his lap to soothe Him. Krishna's love had filled His mind, so He sprang up with the cry of "Chant! Chant!" and began to dance. Bhattacharya and the (Mathura) Brahman sang Krishna's name, while the Master wended His way dancing. The Brahman marvelled at the fervour of His love and grew concerned about His safety. His pa.s.sion of devotion on the way to Brindaban grew tenfold of what it had been at Puri; it increased a thousandfold on seeing Mathura, and a hundred thousand times when He roamed the woods of Brindaban. When He was in other lands the mention of Brindaban had caused His love to well out; and now He had actually come to that Brindaban! His soul was steeped in love day and night, and He bathed and dined (unconsciously) as a matter of habit. [Text, canto 17.]

CHAPTER XVI

The Master's doings at Brindaban

Dancing thus the Master reached the village of Arith, where He suddenly recovered His senses. He asked the people about the Radha pool (_kunda_); but they knew it not, nor did the Brahman guide. But the omniscient discovered the hidden _tirthas_ and bathed in shallow pools in two rice-fields. The villagers wondered at the spectacle. The Master began to praise the Radha pool in love: "Radha is dearest to Krishna among all the milk-maids. So is the Radha-_kunda_ dear (to him) as the bathing-place of his darling. In this pool Krishna ever sported in the water with Radha and on the bank he dallied in the _rasa_ dance.

Whosoever bathes once here gets from Krishna a love rivalling that of Radha. The pool is charming like Radha's self; its glory is great like Radha's."

Recollecting Krishna's acts in the pool, He danced in rapture on the bank, and painted His forehead with its mud. Bhattacharya took a little of the mud. Next, the Master went to the Suman tank. At the sight of the Govardhan hill He was affected, prostrated Himself before it, and madly embraced a rock. In a frenzy of devotion He proceeded to the village of Govardhan, where he bowed to the G.o.d Hari-dev, the first incarnation of Narayan, who dwelt on the western edge of Mathura. Before the G.o.d He danced in rapture, the people at the wondrous news flocking to see Him, and admiring His beauty and devotion. The attendant of the image entertained Him. Bhattacharya cooked in the Brahma-_kunda_ and the Master bathed, dined, and pa.s.sed the night in the temple. At night He cogitated, "No, I must not ascend Govardhan. How then can I get the sight of Gopal?" He remained silent over the matter, but Gopal knowing His mind, played a trick. The G.o.d Gopal was installed at Anna-kut, a village of the Rajputs. Some one informed the headman at night that the Turks were arming to sack the village, and so they should all flee at night with their G.o.d. The villagers in alarm first transferred Gopal to the Ganthuli village, where the G.o.d was wors.h.i.+pped in secret in a Brahman's house. Then they all fled, leaving the village empty. Thus did Gopal migrate repeatedly in fear of the Muslims, being removed from temple to bower or to another village.

In the morning the Master after bathing in the Manas Ganga, set out to walk round Govardhan. Moved to rapture at the sight of the hill, He advanced dancing and chanting the verses, _Bhagabat_, X. xxi. 18.

Bathing at the Govinda-kunda and other holy spots, He learnt that Gopal had gone to Ganthuli, whither He proceeded to see the G.o.d, before whom He danced and sang in a transport of devotion. Moved by Gopal's beauty He recited a _shloka_ and danced till the close of the day.

For three days did He view Gopal; on the fourth day Gopal came away with Him, as He walked singing and dancing, and went back to his former temple [on the hill], while the Master stayed at the foot of it. The people in delight cheered aloud _Hari! Hari!_ Thus does the tender Gopal descend from the hill on some pretext, in order to show himself to the devotee who pa.s.sionately longs to see him and yet declines to set foot upon Govardhan. Thus did he appear to Rup and Sanatan. When Rup was too old to walk and yet longed to see Gopal's charms, the G.o.d took refuge for a month in the Vithaleshwar temple at Mathura in fear of the Muslims. Then Rup with his disciples saw him there for a month. [Rup's disciples named]. After a month Gopal went back to his temple, while Rup returned to Brindaban.

Then the Master visited the Kamya forest, and all other places in Brindaban in the manner described before. Thence to Nandishwar, at the sight of whom He fell into an ecstasy. After bathing in the Paban and other pools, He climbed the hill and asked if there was any temple on the top. Being directed by the local people, He entered the cave and there beheld the image of the fair dancing Child between his robust parents. He bowed at the feet of Nanda and Yashoda, and in rapture touched all the limbs of the child Krishna. After dancing and singing there all day, He visited the Khadir wood, the Vishnu reposing on the Sesha Snake, Khela-_tirtha_, the Bhandir wood, the Bhadra wood (across the Jamuna), the Shri-ban, the Ivauha-ban, the Maha-ban, (the birth-place of Radha), where He beheld the site of the killing of Yamalarjun, to the over flowing of His love. After visiting Gokul He returned to Mathura. Here He stayed at that Brahman's house, visiting Krishna's birth-shrine; but He left Mathura on account of its press of people and dwelt in seclusion at Akrur-_tirtha_.

Another day He visited Brindaban, bathed in the Kaliya lake and Praskandan. From the Twelve Suns (_Dwadash Aditya_) He went to the Kas.h.i.+ _tirtha_. At the place of _rasa_ He fainted away in love, and on recovering rolled on the ground, laughed, wept, danced, recited verses, and sang. In such deeds was the day spent there, in the evening He returned to Akrur for breakfast.

Next morning He bathed at the Chiraghat of Brindaban, and rested under a very ancient tamarind tree of the age of Krishna's exploits, with a smooth platform built round its trunk. Close by flowed the Jamuna; cool breezes blew; the water of the Jamuna gazed at the beauty of Brindaban.

After singing the holy names under the tamarind tree, the Master performed His noonday prayer and breakfasted at Akrur. The people of the village crowded in such numbers to see Him that He could not dance freely. So He came back to Brindaban, and sitting apart sang the holy names till noon. In the third quarter of the day He appeared to the people and advised them all to make _sankirtan_ of Krishna's name.

Then arrived a Vaishnav, of the Rajput race, named Krishna-das, a householder living in a village on the other side of the Jamuna. After bathing in the Kes.h.i.+ghat he was going to the Kali lake when he suddenly beheld a holy man sitting under the tamarind tree. Admiring the beauty and fervour of the Master, he bowed to Him in devotion. To the Master's query as to who he was, he replied, "I am a miserable householder, a Rajput from across the river. I long to be servant to a Vaishnav. Last night in sleep I saw a vision which exactly agrees with you." As the Master graciously embraced him, the Rajput mad with love danced crying _Hari! Hari!_ He followed the Master at noon to the Akrur-_tirtha_ and ate His leavings. Next morning he bore the Master's water-pot [to Brindaban] and kept His company, leaving his wife, children and home.