Sunday, 19 April 2009 12:07 Written by Sacinandana Swami

 

Once there was a chief robber in northern India who had many children. One of his sons was named after the sacred mountain Govardhana.

 

Govardhana was a master pickpocket, and time and again he mugged passersby. One day his father gave him a warning: "Never go to a place where they talk about Krishna!"

 

"Why not?" Govardhana asked.

 

"Am I your father or not?" his father yelled. "That's my only prohibition. You follow it."

Govardhana accepted the mysterious prohibition, but he agreed to his father's wish because he did not want to aggravate him unnecessarily.

 

One night when Govardhana was returning from an attack on travelers through the forest, he caught sight of a small fire with several men sitting around it. Among them was a pandit reading from the sacred Srimad-Bhagavatam about Sri Krishna's appearance. Govardhana crept nearer. When the pandit explained how Krishna enacts pastimes, the assembly cried, "Jaya Sri Krishna!"

 

When Govardhana heard the exclamation he remembered his father's words: "Never go to a place where they are talking about Krishna!" He put his hands over his ears and swiftly went away.

 

But suddenly he stepped on a thorn. "Ouch!" he screamed, and his face contorted with pain, he grabbed his foot. This freed his ears again, and he accidentally heard one sentence: "The mighty entities on the higher planets, the devatas, do not cast shadows like men." At once Govardhana released his foot and threw his hands back up over his ears so violently that it sounded like a whip cracking. Then he ran. The noise confused the sages, and they looked up in time to see the robber fleeing into the forest.

 

After a while Govardhana arrived at a village and the desire to thieve arose in his heart. But just as he was about to climb through a kitchen window, he saw looming around him ten dark shapes. The men grabbed Govardhana and pulled him back onto the street. Govardhana could immediately tell by the way they handled him that these men were robbers like himself but of a more brutal breed. The thieves then dragged him into the forest.

 

The thieves brought him to the place where they made sacrifices to the mighty Goddess Kali. Govardhana was terrified. The robbers demanded, "Bow before the goddess!" Govardhana knew they would behead him the moment he bowed down, and desperately his mind cast about for a way to escape. His glance fell on the deity, and to his surprise he saw a shadow behind her. "She's not real!" he thought. "Didn't I just hear a few minutes ago that demigods cast no shadow?" The thought comforted him, somehow, and he said, "My life has been brutal and of no service to anyone. I would like to sacrifice myself voluntarily. However, before I do so, I want to bath so that I can be clean and sober for the sacrifice."

 

The thieves replied, "Oh, your filth doesn't matter at all. But we're glad you've decided to surrender voluntarily." After some argument, they agreed to the bath, however, and sent Govardhana with a single thief to the river.

 

Govardhana had become so filled with courage by now that he punched his guard, dove headfirst into the water, and escaped. When he returned home the next morning, exhausted, he rejoiced. It had been a close shave. He thought, "Hearing about Krishna is not so bad - it saved my life, after all! I think I'll go and find that pandit again tomorrow morning. I'd like to hear more about Him."

 

So the next evening Govardhana returned to the sadhus' assembly and sat at the edge of the circle, listening intently. What he heard would change his life. The pandit said, "Krishna, who is adorned with a gold crown decked with diamonds, sets out for the forest every day to herd His cows with His cowherd friends."

 

Govardhana thought, "Super! I really have to meet this Krishna. I would love to steal His crown."

 

At the end of the lecture he decided to ask the pandit more about this boy with the golden crown, but it was impossible to approach the pandit because so many people had gathered around him.

 

Govardhana returned the next day, and before the lecture he approached the holy man, who thought, "This man looks like a thief. He's here to take everything from me. The only thing I own is my Srimad-Bhagavatam." But Govardhana asked only where the boy with the beautiful crown lived.

 

"That boy is called Shyamasundar, and He lives in Vrindavan," the sage replied.

 

Govardhana thanked him and prepared to leave for Vrindavan, but before he could start the pandit asked whether he would like to stay in the forest longer to hear more from Srimad-Bhagavatam. Today's topic, he said, would be the jewelry Syamasundara wears. Govardhana did not need to be invited twice; he promptly sat down in the first row so that he could memorize everything the pandit said.

 

Govardhana was meditating on how to take away the little boy's jewels. The sage described Krishna's pearl necklace garments of the finest silk. Fragrant flower garlands twine around His neck, and sometimes He feeds the swans that sing enchantingly for Him with the pearls on His necklace. Krishna wears a peacock feather in His wavy black hair and has a beautiful pearl under His nose. When He breathes the pearl shakes, and while shaking, it reflects the red color inside His nose, which resembles the rising sun. When His devotees meditate on this pearl they feel such joy that they are relieved of all pain and trouble.

 

It had become late, and the saintly man wanted to stop for the night. Tomorrow, he announced, he would discuss the ornaments Krishna wears from the hips down. Govardhana was enthused to meet the youngster and free him of some of His jewelry - He certainly seemed to have enough of it! - and how much threat could a seven-year-old like Krishna pose?

 

The next evening, Govardhana was again in attendance. This time the pandit described Krishna jewel-studded belt, enchanting ankle bells that jingle whenever He roams Vraja's forests, and His silver and gold flutes.

 

Govardhana was truly astounded. His only thought was, "I need to meet this boy."

 

"What is His name again, and where does He live?" he asked.

 

"He is Shyamasundara, and he lives in Vrindavan," the sage patiently repeated.

 

When Govardhana wanted to go home he noticed that the other listeners were throwing donations into a pot for the pandit. Govardhana actually considering throwing a few of his own coins into the pot, but then had second thoughts. He glanced at a coin he had pulled from his pocket. Then slowly his mind changed. "If I throw my coin into the pot too, maybe a lucky star will smile on my enterprise, because this assembly has already saved me once." He added his coin to the donation pot.

 

While walking home he could not help but repeat the words Shyamasundar, Vrindavan, Shyamasundar, Vrindavan, Shyamasundar, Vrindavan time and again. He wanted to be sure he would never forget these names. At home his sister asked what he was doing. But he could only utter "Shyamasundar, Vrindavan." He did not look well. When she asked what was wrong, Govardhana replied, "Whenever I say Shyamasundar, Vrindavan, I am filled with sadness and longing. I cannot explain it."

 

Despite his constant repetition of the names, the next morning Govardhana could remember only one of them: Vrindavan. "Oh, now I have forgotten His name!" He thought to ask the pandit, but remembered that the sage had gone home yesterday. It was hard to know what to do. Should he track down the pandit? Yes. Three days later he found the sage's home. Govardhana knocked on his door. The sage thought, "Only a thief knocks like this." He went to the door and was astonished to see Govardhana. The sadhu prayed to Krishna, "This person is so keen to meet You. If only I had a spark of the same desire I would be completely Krishna conscious by now."

 

Govardhana asked, "What was the name of that boy with the crown again?"

 

"His name is Shyamasundar," the sadhu joyfully replied. Govardhana had reminded him of the Lord of his heart.

 

Govardhana complained, "Such a long name for such a short boy. Doesn't the name Shyam suffice?"

 

"All the boys in Vrindavan are called Shyam," the sage told him, and asked in return, "What's your name?"

 

"Govardhana."

 

What would you say if I called you Gobha?" (Gobha means cow dung.)

 

Govardhana drew his knife and threatened, "Say that again, and I'll ..!"

 

"You see, you cannot easily shorten names!" the sadhu said, sounding like a schoolmaster.

 

Govardhana asked whether the sage could tell him more about Shyamasundar. The sage began. "In the morning after He rises, He goes to the cowshed to milk the cows. After that He honors breakfast prasada. When He is finished, He sets out for the forest to play with His friends and cows. At midday they all rest beneath a tree - except Krishna-Shyamasundar, who goes on a trip at that time." The pandit did not want to tell Govardhana about Srimati Radharani.

 

"Excellent!", Govardhana exclaimed. "And what is His favorite food?"

 

"He loves butter mixed with sugar."

 

Govardhana was content with these answers and set out for Vrindavan. When he arrived, he hid in the forest. He saw a huge herd of cows. Nearby, cowherd boys romped through the meadows.

 

Krishna asked His friends whether they would like to rest in the shade of the forest trees. When the thief saw the boys fall asleep and Krishna alone, he thought his time had come. Suddenly a peacock ran through the bushes. Enchanted by the Krishna's beauty it called out, "Mayur, mayur ..." At once Krishna's friends awakened and laughed because the peacock's cry had delighted them. Krishna pulled the peacock onto His lap and caressed its crest comfortingly.

 

"That complicates things," Govardhana thought.

 

But soon the cowherd boys had lain down again and Krishna was again alone. Govardhana took the opportunity and jumped out from behind his bush, facing Krishna fully for the first time. Overwhelmed by His beauty, he began to cry. The tears rolling down his cheeks took him by surprise. Never in his life had he cried when looking at anyone. He quickly suppressed them. He was no sentimentalist!

 

"What's Your name?" Govardhana asked.

 

"What's yours?" Krishna asked in reply.

 

"Govardhana," he said.

 

Krishna smiled and said, "You look like a rock - coarse, unwieldy, and dumb! There's only one thing in your head: stealing, stealing, stealing."

 

Govardhana was astonished. "What sort of boy is this? He can read my mind!"

 

"Now tell me Your name?"

 

"Shyamasundar. I am a thief too. I used to steal butter, but then I stole the garments of the unmarried gopis, and nowadays I steal hearts."

 

"Tell me," Govardhana said. "Are You always covered in so many jewels - a crown, ankle bells ..."

 

"Ah, today I have hardly any ornaments on. That's because I got up late and My mother had no time to dress Me properly."

 

"I have brought something for You," Govardhana said. "I heard You're fond of butter mixed with sugar."

 

But Krishna declined his offering and said: "You have poisoned the butter so that I will fall asleep and then you can steal My jewelry."

 

"I'm not such a scoundrel! I would never poison a child!" Govardhana called out seriously, but Krishna left him no choice: Govardhana had to taste the butter first to prove that it was safe to eat.

 

But Krishna was not really afraid of poison; He knew that Govardhana was hungry after his long journey to Vrindavan and wanted him to eat. When Govardhana had eaten almost all the butter, Krishna ran His finger around the butter pot and accepted His devotee's gift.

 

Govardhana returned to the business at hand. How would he get the crown? He asked Krishna, hesitantly, "Could You maybe give me one of Your crowns? You have so many!"

 

"Of course!" Krishna said, and handed the thief His crown. "Do you want My earrings too? And take the necklaces." Govardhana waxed enthusiastic.

 

"And I have this pearl under My nose. Do you want that too?"

 

When Govardhana realized that Krishna was referring to the same pearl the pandit had spoken of he became ashamed. "No, no, I would not dare disturb this beauty."

 

Krishna began to untie His ankle bells, but He struggled with the knots. His mother was tying them tightly these days so that He wouldn't lose them while playing in the forest. Again, Govardhana felt a wave of shame.

 

As Shyamasundar began to remove His bangles, Govardhana said, "No, how can I take anything from You. There's only one thing I want: to decorate You!" Govardhana said this last part a little shyly.

 

Krishna smiled and agreed, and Govardhana bent down to retie the ankle bells. He stood up and began to drape Krishna's necklaces and other jewelry around Him. Finally, Govardhana placed Krishna's crown on His head. His hands were trembling; he had never decorated anyone before. The peacock feather looked tilted and Govardhana began to worry about that, but Krishna seemed happy at Govardhana's expression of devotion.

 

Then Krishna said, "It's getting late and I should return to My friends."

 

"Will You come back tomorrow? I'd love to meet you again and I yearn to speak with You."

 

"Of course I'll come, but you have to be on time although I may be late," Krishna said, "if My friends don't fall asleep immediately during their rest time. They shouldn't know anything about our meeting!"

 

"I'll be there," Govardhana called out joyfully. "I've been waiting for You all my life!"

 

When Krishna returned home that evening His mother was surprised. "You look different. I didn't decorate You like that."

 

"My friend Govardhana decorated Me today," Krishna told her, laughing.

 

"Govardhana?" Mother Yasoda was astonished. "How is that I don't know this friend. Will You bring him along one day?"

 

"You might not think much of him. He looks a little rough," Krishna said. "But he has a good heart and He only wants Me. I am the sole desire of his heart."

 

The next day Krishna again met Govardhana in the forest. They met every day after that, and Govardhana's heart filled with prema-bhakti, pure love. On the seventh day Govardhana left his material body and returned to the spiritual world, where he decorates Krishna to this day.

 

Philosophers try to reach God through knowledge and mystic yogis by performing difficult austerities, but Govardhana had the real qualification: he wanted to meet Krishna. He wanted nothing else.

 

From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.12 (Los Angeles, August 15, 1972):

 

People, they sometimes say, "Can you show me God? Have you seen God?" [...] So the answer is here. Yes, you can see God. Everyone can see God. I am also seeing God. But there must be the qualification. [...] Here is the qualification. What is that? Tac chraddadhana munayo. One must be first of all faithful. Faithful. Sraddadhana. He must be very much eager to see God, actually. Not that as a proclivity, frivolous thing, "Can you show me God?" A magic, just like God is a magic. No. He must be very serious [...]

 

There is a story in this connection. It is very instructive. Try to hear. One professional reciter was reciting about Bhagavat, and he was describing that Krishna, being very highly decorated with all jewels, He is sent for tending the cows in the forest. So there was a thief in that meeting. So he thought that "Why not then go to Vrindavan and plunder this boy? He is in the forest with so many valuable jewels. I can go there and catch the child and take [...] all the jewels." That was his intention. So, he was serious that "I must find out that boy. Then in one night I shall become millionaire. So much jewelry. No." So he went there, but his qualification was that "I must see Krishna, I must see Krishna." That anxiety, that eagerness, made it possible that in Vrindavan he saw Krishna. He saw Krishna the same way as he was informed by the Bhagavat reader. Then he saw, "Oh, oh, you are so nice boy, Krishna." So he began to flatter. He thought that "Flattering, I shall take all the jewels." [...]

 

So when he proposed his real business, "So may I take some of your ornaments? You are so rich." "No, no, no.... My mother will be angry. I cannot..." [...] Krishna as a child. So he became more and more eager for Krishna. And then... By Krishna's association, he had already become purified. Then, at last, Krishna said, "All right, you can take." Then he became a devotee, immediately. Because by Krishna's association... So some way or other, we should come in contact with Krishna. Some way or other. Then we'll be purified.

 

Source: www.saranagati.net

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