Narada having darshan of Sri Krishna and Sri Radha in Vraja

Vraja: Narada having darshan of Sri Krishna and Sri Radha:

(Padma Purana - Patala Khanda - 71)

• Radha-Krishna: I meditate on Sri Narada having darshan of Sri Krishna followed by Sri Radha in Vraja.

• Sri Krishna: When Sri Narada came to know about the incarnation of Sri Krishna, he went to the house of Sri Nanda at Gokula. There he had the darshan of the child form of Sri Krishna. Sri Krishna was lying on a golden cot on which a soft clothing was spread. The Gopis were looking at him continuously with love. Child Krishna was very delicate and his eyes were very beautiful. His curly hairs adorned his face. He was slightly smiling due to which his teeth was visible. He was naked. The whole room was lighted by his splendour.

• Sri Narada said to Nandaji: It is very difficult to be born as a human being having devotion to Lord Narayana. Even they try to attain eternal Love for this (divine) child. This child will give great joy to all. Even the mind of Lord Brahma is filled with love for this child. Those human beings who will sing meditating on this child, hear his songs and worship him, for them there will be no obstacles in this samsara. Therefore, give up all wishes of after-life and with one-pointed devotion love this child. After this Sri Narada left the house of Nandaji, saluting the child Krishna as Lord Vishnu.

• Sri Radha: After this Sri Narada thought within himself. Devi Lakshmi, the consort of Sri Narayana Hari must have incarnated as a Gopi (somewhere) for his Leela, there is no doubt about it. Therefore, today I will go to each house of Vraja Vasi and search for her. Thus Sri Narada started visiting the houses of Vraja Vasis. Everyone worshipped him thinking of him as Narayana.

• Searching in this way, Sri Narada visited the house of Bhanu, the friend of Nanda. Sri Narada said to Bhanu: You are very dharmic (righteous), as well as prosperous. Is there any son or daughter of yours? Sri Bhanu brought his son who was very tejasvi (filled with power and splendour). Sri Bhanu made him bow to Sri Narada. Sri Narada embraced him and said that he will be an intimate friend of Sri Krishna and Sri Balarama.

• When Sri Narada was about to leave, Sri Bhanu said: I have a beautiful daughter as well. She is younger than this son. However, she is as if inert, blind and deaf. (Sri Radha behaved like inert, blind and deaf to the world and was only devoted to Sri Krishna). I pray to you that she develops fast. By your pleasing glance may she become like normal. Sri Narada was filled with curiosity. Then Sri Bhanu went inside and brought her daughter. Sri Narada, the greatest devotee, as well as one very dear to Sri Krishna saw the daughter of Bhanu. Sri Narada (with his divine eyes) saw the unseen and unheard (divine) form of that child. She Narada became spellbound and was immersed in an ocean of bliss. Sri Narada thought: I move about freely in different Lokas, but I have never seen a beauty like this. I have seen Brahma Loka, Rudra Loka and Indra Loka, but I have never seen even a small part of such shobha (radiance) in anyone. I have seen Devi Parvati, Devi Lakshmi and Devi Saraswati, but they cannot even touch the shadow of her. I have seen the Mohini Avatara of Lord Vishnu, who enchanted Lord Shankara, but even she cannot compare with her. I do not have the power to know her tattva (ultimate nature). No one knows that she is the consort of Sri Hari. Just by seeing this child, such a devotional love for the lotus feet of Govinda has awakened in me, which I have never experienced before. Sri Krishna will be very pleased with her. By seeing her divine quality, I bow down to her in solitude.

• Sri Narada then sent away Bhanu for some errands and eulogized the child in solitude. He said that Sri Krishna definitely performs Leelas in the various forests of Vrindavana with you. I want to see that youthful form of yours. Please be graceful to me and show that form of yours by which Sri Krishna will be enchanted by you. Then, looking at Mahamaheshwari, Sri Narada started eulogizing Sri Krishna. While Sri Narada was thus eulogizing (and lamenting to get the darshan), the Devi assumed her very attractive divine youthful form of a fourteen years old girl. Then various other divine girls of Vraja came there and surrounded here. Seeing this, Sri Narada became inert-like semi-conscious and captivated with wonder. The girls touching water with the feet of the Devi brought back Sri Narada to consciousness.

• The divine girls told Sri Narada: You have worshipped Sri Bhagavan with supreme devotion. Sri Bhagavan fulfills the wishes of his devotees. By some great merit of yours, the consort of Sri Hari has shown her form to you. Please get up and perform pradakshina (circumambulation) of this Devi, and bow down to her again and again. She is going to disappear any time now and thereafter you will not be able to see her.

• The divine girls told Sri Narada: You will not be able to see her again. But in Vrindavana there is an auspicious Ashoka creeper which is always filled with flowers and divine fragrance. It is located on the banks of Kusum Sarovar near Govardhan. If you come there at midnight you will be able to see us. Hearing their sweet words filled with love, Sri Narada then circumambulated the Devi and bowed down to her lying flat on the ground.

• Sri Narada called Bhanu and told him that this girl child is of such divine power which is not accessible even to the devas. Whichever house her feet touches, in that house Sri Narayana resides. In that house, Devi Lakshmi resides with all her siddhis. You decorate your house well and by all means protect this daughter of yours. Thereafter, Sri Narada left worshipping that Devi mentally and left.

• Sri Narada went to the place of Vrindavana near the Ashoka creeper to get the darshan of the Devi at midnight. At midnight the Devi came there along with her divine companions. Sri Narada fell flat on the ground and bowed down to them. They sat down surrounding Sri Narada. Sri Narada tried to converse with them, but seeing their love, beauty and hearing their words, Sri Narada became overwhelmed and could not speak anything.

- Gokul - Nanda Bhavan (Yamuna) (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh): Sri Narada had the darshan of Sri Krishna in the house of Nanda.
- Raval or Barsana (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh) - Sri Narada had the darshan of Sri Radha in the house of Bhanu.
- Govardhan - Kusum Sarovar (Govardhan Hill) (Mathura district, Uttar Pradesh): Sri Narada had the darshan of Radha along with her divine companions at midnight near an Ashoka creeper in Kusum Sarovar.

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