IntroductionIn the first part of this blog there was a more broader description of Govardhana – the Tattva side; His identity, the reason why Govardhana is now smaller than 5000 years ago, that his caves are somehow mysterious - because the acharyas didn’t place them in the astakala lilas, and we also don’t see nowadays caves in Govardhana, I wrote about how Giriraja can be simultaneously Bhagavan and His servant at the same time, why He is the best servant of Krsna, the meaning of the name of Govardhana, that He is even Krsna’s home where He lives, how Govardhana is the ornament of Braja and I quoted the verses from the Bhagavata Purana, were some caves in Govardhana Hill are mentioned.
The second part will exclusively focus on the cave-pastimes of Radha and Krsna in the caves in Govardhana Hill, which are described in books of the Goswamis and junior acharyas.
In the second part are the all the verses which I found from the Goswamis and junior acharyas, which mention the madhurya cave-pastimes of Radha-Krsna. Also I will add in the end some of my favorite pictures of me of Govardhana Hill.
The secret cave-pastimes of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa in the Gosvāmīs booksSanātana Gosvāmī
Sanātana Gosvāmī says in his tika to Srimad Bhagavatam 10.3.7-8 –
The Lord plays undisturbed (āśayaḥ) in his special places (guha) in all jīvas and in
Vaikuṇṭha. These places are called guha (secret place or cave) because
they are difficult to approach and difficult to understand.
My notes:
Caves are hidden and secret places – so these caves serve Radha and Krsna perfectly, to have Their privacy in these caves, hidden from the public [1]. Caves in the spiritual world are also not dirty, gloomy and dark as in the material world, as later it will be described, these caves are beautifully, cozy with a nice temperature, and the manjaris, Radha’s dasis decorate this caves even more beautifully with asana’s, canopy, ghee lamps, incents for good smell etc. But what makes these caves most wonderful, is that these caves are not just caves in some mountain, these caves are in the most glorious and most wonderful mountain in the universe— Govardhana Hill! Even as born in Switzerland, the mountains in Switzerland are of no beauty and no importance if it’s not Govardhana, the lakes are pointless if its not Yamuna, and the nature seems to be useless if it’s not in Braja.
[1]
Radha and Krsna are not married and They live in a small village, where everyone knows everyone. Rumors spread very fast, and to have a good reputation, is in the Vedic culture of the utmost importance of a family and of individuals.
prãvrt-sil-bhusitãrãnya
vrsti-kãla-vinoda-krt
guha-vanaspati-kridã-
sevin mula-phalãsana
O Lord Krsna, when the beauty of the monsoon season decorated the forest, You performed pastimes in the caves and under the large forest-trees, eating their fruits and roots.
[Krsna lila stava verse 208, in connection with Bhagavatam 10.20.27-28]
Rūpa Gosvāmī
From Padyavali:
esottuñga-taranga-lañghita-tatosañga patangãtmajã
purneyam tarir ambubhir na hi hareh satikã kalankäd api
kãthinyam bhaja nãdya sundari vayam rãdhe prasãdena te
jivãmah sphutam ãtan-kuru giri-droní-vinodotsavam
The Yamuna is filled with huge waves, and the boat is filling with water. Still, Krsna is not afraid.
O beautiful Radha, don't be so harsh. By Your mercy We will live through this. All You need do is pay the boat-fare of a promise to enjoy with Me a festival of amorous pastimes in the cave of Govardhana Hill.”
[Padyavali verse 280, from Sri Rupa Gosvami]
te govardhana-kandarãh sa yamunã-kacchah sa cesto vato bhãndirah sa vanaspatih salmearás te tac ca gostháñganam kim te dváravatí-bhujañga hrdayam náyáti dosair aplty avyad vo hrdi duhsaham vraja-vadhu-sandesa-salyam hareh
Why do Govardhana's caves, the Yamuna s shore, Your favorite vata tree named Bhandira, the kadamba tree at Kãliya Lake, Your friends, and Vraja village, not enter Your heart, even to be criticized, O debauchee of Dvãrakã”. These words of the vraja-gopis were an unbearable javelin wounding Lord Hari's heart. May that javelin protect you all.
[Padyavali verse 379]
tulasi vilasasi tvam malli jãtãsi phullã
sthala-kamalini bhrñgaih sangatãngí vibhãsi
kathayata bala sakhyah ksipram asmãsu kasrnin
vasati kapata-kandah kandare nanda-sünuh
O Tulasi, you are very beautiful. O jasmine vine, you are filled with splendid blossoms. O land-growing lotus flower, you are very lovely with all these bumblebees. O friends, please tell me at once: In which cave did Nandanandana, the king of cheaters, go?
[Padyavali verse 296 from Sri Rupa Gosvamí]
vatsa sthãvara-kandaresu vicaran düra-pracãre gavãm himsrãn vïksya purah purãna-purusam nãrãyanam dhyãsyani ity uktasya yasodayã mura-ripor vavyãj jaganti sphurad- bimbostha-dvaya-gãdha-pídana-vasãd avyakta-bhãvam smitam
Yasodã said, “My Child, when You take care of the cows far away in the forests or the caves of Govardhana Hill, and You see dangerous wild animals, then You should meditate on the ancient Godhead Narayana, and He will protect You.” As Lord Krsna heard these words it was only with great difficulty that He prevented a smile from appearing on His bimba-fruit lips. May that suppressed smile protect all the worlds. [Padyavali verse 150 — Sri Abhinanda]
yãvad gopã madhura-murali-nãda-mattã mukundam manda-spandair ahaha sakalair locanair ãpibanti gãvas tãvan masrna-yavasa-grãsa-lubdhã vidüram yãtã govardhana-girí-dan-dronikãbhyantaresu
When the cowherd boys become intoxicated by the sweet sounds of the flute, and with unblinking eyes drink the sight of Lord Mukunda, then the unattended cows, eager for soft grasses to cat, wander far away and enter the caves of Govardhana Hill.
[Padyavali verse 154 by Sri Kesavacchatri]
tato ‘haṁ dhammille sthagita-muralīkā sakhi śanair
alīkāmarṣeṇa bhramad-avirala-bhrūr udacalam|
kacākṛṣṭi-krīḍā-krama-paricite caurya-carite
harir labdhopādhiḥ prasabham anayan māṁ giri-darīm||110
O friend! Hiding the flute in my hair, frowning intensely with false anger, I escaped. Understanding that I had stolen the flute when he pulled my hair playfully, using my deception as an excuse, he brought me by force to a cave on Govardhana.
[Hamsaduta verse 110]
sakṛd vaṁśī-nāda-śravaṇa-militābhīra-vanitā
rahaḥ-krīḍā-sākṣī pratipada-latā-sadma-subhagaḥ|
sa dhenūnāṁ bandhur madhu-mathana-khaṭṭāyita-śilaḥ
kariṣyaty ānandaṁ sapadi tava govardhana-giriḥ||21
Govardhana, the friend of the cows, beautiful with creeper cottages everywhere, and a witness to the secret pastimes with the gopīs, who ran to meet Him by hearing the sound of His flute once, whose stone slabs became Kṛṣṇa’s seats, will immediately give you bliss.
[Hamsaduta 21]
My notes:
Could be a hint to the secret pastime inside the caves.
yayau kālaḥ kalyāṇy adhikalita-kelī parimalāṁ
vilāsārthī yasminn acala-kuhare līna-vapuṣam|
sa māṁ dhṛtvā dhūrtaḥ kata-kapaṭa-roṣāṁ sakhi haṭhād
akārṣīd ākarṣann urasi śaśi-lekhā-śata-vṛtām||102 O auspicious friend! The time has passed when the rascal, desiring play, grabbed me, scented with desire for pastimes, as I hid in a mountain cave, faking anger, and, forcibly dragging me to his chest, marked me with his crescent-like scratches.” [Hamsaduta verse 102]
rādhikā: (kiñcid uccair iva) bhaavadi, pasīda pasīda! imassiṁ duranta-vvasaṇe kaḍhora-ghaṭṭībāla-hatthe mā kkhu kādaro paddi-dakkhiṇo eso jaṇo sullukkīadu! (iti saṁskṛtena) bhrāmyaty eṣa gireḥ kuḍaṅga-kuhare kṛṣṇo bhujaṅgāgraṇīḥ spṛṣṭo yena janaḥ prayāti viṣamāṁ kām apy asādhyāṁ daśām nābhadraṁ na ca bhadram ākalayituṁ śaktāsmi dṛṣṭi-cchaṭā- mātreṇāsya hatāham icchasi kutaḥ prakṣeptum atrāpi mām (iti līlayā śuṣkaṁ rudatī pādopakaṇṭhe luṭhati) (Rādhikā:) (a bit louder) O Bhagavatī, have mercy, have mercy! This gentle girl is desperate! Please don’t give Her away in place of the tax into most sinful and rough hands of this tax collector! (in Sanskrit) The black snake lurks in a cave in a kunja on this hill [Govardhana]. If it bites somebody, that person develops some terrible, incurable disease, and I can’t say if it’s good or not. I myself am bitten by this snake many glances. Why do you want to abandon me here? (Pretending to cry, She rolls at the feet of Paurṇamāsī.) [Dana-Keli-Kaumudi verse 513-514]
kṛṣṇaḥ: (sa-khela-smitam)
ghaṭṭa-śulka-pradānāya guhātithya-grahāya vā
spṛhāṁ te hema-gaurāṅgi giras tāṁ gocarī-kuru
Kṛṣṇa (speaks to Radha):
(Smiling playfully) O golden-hued, please tell me outright what You wish to do: Do You want to pay the toll tax or become a guest in My cave?
[Dana Keli Kaumudi verse 183]
rādhā: (vihasya) hanta, phukkāra-duvviseṇa hadājuda-cakka-lakkhaṇa-ṇāara-ṇāa! moha-dāiṇaṁ visāṇaṁ mahāsāraṁ kiṁ tti ullāsesi? tumaṁ gabbharaṁ gadua muraliā-ṇāiṇīṁ cumbehi.
(Rādhā:)
(laughing) Alas, o snake among suave men, marked with a cakra! You have slayed thousands with Your virulent hissing! Why are You creating a shower of poison? You had better go to some cave and kiss the snake Muralī. [Dana Keli Kaumudi verse 216]
kṛṣṇaḥ: (rādhām avalokya)
dātum icchasi na kāñcanāni cec
cāturīṁ manasi kāñcana śritā
gauri gairika-vicitritodarīṁ
tvaṁ tataḥ praviśa bhū-bhṛto darīm
(iti rādhām āvṛṇoti)
(Kṛṣṇa:)
(looks at Rādhā) O girl with a golden complexion, if You don’t wish to give us gold and are instead resorting to Your wits, then enter the mountain cave, whose interior is beautiful with red clay.
(to embrace Rādhā)
[Dana Keli Kaumudi verse 348]
arthottho, yathā—
asūryampaśyāpi priya-sahacarī-premabhir ahaṁ
tavābhyarṇaṁ labdhvā madhumathana dūtyaṁ vidadhatī |
drutaṁ tasyāḥ snehaṁ niśamaya na yāvac chaśi-dhiyā
dhayan vaktra-jyotsnāṁ niśi hata-cakoras tudati mām ||17||
Suggestive language arising from meaning, through a plea for others:
O killer of the Madhu demon! Though I am wife of a king, I come to you with a message from a dear friend who faithfully loves you. Please try to understand her love for you. She is a cakora bird and she considers your face to be the moon. If tonight she does not get the opportunity to drink the moonlight of your face she will die. Her death will cause me great pain.
[Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi 7.17]
Viśvanātha:
"I am not even touched by the sun, I am so rarely seen and I am a princess as well. Because of my paramount beauty and sweetness I am fit to be enjoyed by You." Kṛṣṇa replies: "I will hear from you about her (the other girl for whom the parārtha yañyā dūtikā is actually canvassing) later. Now first I
am thinking of a way to protect you. If you stay out here, that naughty Cakora will not leave you alone. Enter into this dark cave of Girirāja alone. I will hide a very frightened girl like you by keeping you on My chest. After you stayed with Me for a while I will deceive that Cakora bird and I will hear from you about that other girl's affection for Me." The word ādi indicates humility.
[ Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi]
My notes:
Viśvanātha reveals more detail in his tika, that Radha-Krsna go into a cave.
arthottho, yathā—
anavacita-carīyaṁ cāru-puṣpā latālī
tava nikhila-vihaṅgāś cātra nirdhūta-śaṅkāḥ |
tvayi vicaritum īhe tena govardhanādya
prakaṭaya tam upāyaṁ nirvṛtā yena yāmi ||23||
Addressing others, using altered meanings:
O Govardhana Hill! You are decorated with many creepers bearing beautiful flowers unpicked by anyone, and you are the home of many confident birds. I wish to wander on your slope. Please tell me how I may easily do that.
Viśvanātha:
Blissful, she becomes fully satisfied. Coming to her, Kṛṣṇa says, “Govardhana in personal form spoke to me directly in that cave. He requested that I bring one of my devotees who had offered prayers to him. Enter that cave to please him.” He then led her into the cave.
[Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi7.23]
My notes:
Here the same, Viśvanātha Cakravartīpāda reveals more details, that Radha-Krsna go into a cave.
In a famous tika of Viśvanātha Cakravartīpāda to Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, Viśvanātha Cakravartīpāda even reveals, that the caves in Govardhana can be a cave-madir, where Radha (and Krishna) worship suryadev:
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartīpāda has made a truly incomparibly relishable commentary on
This verse UN. 7.87 in his Ānanda Candrikā-ṭīkā:
Rādhā speaks to Viśākhā:
Today I will personally install a deity of the Sungod in a cave-temple of Govardhana Hill, smear that temple with My own hands (with clay or unguents) and wait for Her from a distance. Then you must take Her there to see and worship that deity. When She sits there for doing püjä I will be satisfied just by looking at Her from the back, and if you are kind upon Me then I will be allowed just to touch Her footsoles once!"
[Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi 7.87]
My notes:
A very heart breaking moment, Krishna had left Braja and Radha is searching everywhere desperately for Him, also in the caves of Govardhana and She asked Govardhana for help:
(iti kakum atanvati) daridvaram durad drutam iha darodghatya dayaya
durantam dainyormim mama damaya damodara-drSé ||41]|
Radha: (becomes levied. She says with great respect:) O Govardhana Hill, O king of mountains, you are the best of the affectionate servants of Lord Krsna. I think that Lord Krsna always remains on your lap. (with plaintive words) Please be kind. Please open the entrance of one of your caves and let Me glimpse Krsna within. Please do this and stop the unbearable endless waves of My suffering.
(punar nibhdlya) katham esa jhatkara-kari-vari-nirjharayita-mahaSatru-piiro maunam evavalambate | (ity arijalim badhnati) (Looking again) Govardhana remains silent, shedding tears in the form of whispering waterfalls. [Lalita Madhava 3.41]
yasyam aste vicakilamayi kalpita tena sayyd |
drstvapy enam lalitam abhitah smarayantim purastat pranan kanthe sakhi vicarato dhig varakan mamastu ||44
(Looking south She begins to cry) Here is the same cave-entrance on Govardhana Hill were Krsna made a very artistic, colorful bed of jasmine flowers. When I see this place it reminds Me of all the pastimes we enjoyed together here. O friend, fie on the useless breaths that continue to move in My throat!
[Lalita Madhava 3.44]
My notes:
Radha sees a jamine flower bed in a cave which Krishna made, and it reminds her on their pastime together
(iti vaiklavyam natayanti) drstah kurija-gano vyaloki nikhilam vrndatavi-kotaram nirbandhena nibhdlita ca nivida bhandira-bhimandali | pratyangam muhur iksitah sakhi mayd so’yam ca govardhano labdhah kvapi na tasya hanta lalite gandho'pi bandhos tava ||45 (Greatly disturbed) O friend! I have looked in all the bowers. I have looked in all the caves of Vrndavana. I have thoroughly looked in all the thick forests around Bhandira. I have searched everywhere on Govardhana. I have not obtained a trace of your friend anywhere [Lalita Madhava 3.45]
navavrnda: deva navabhisara-mandiri-krta-kandaro’yam nandisvara-girir mudam udgirati | Nava-vrnda:
O Lord, Nandisvara Mountain exudes bliss after making a cave into a new meeting place for you. [Lalita Madhava 8.22]
My notes:
Caves are naturally in every mountain, here is a cave in the Nadisvara Hill described, who is non different from Lord Shiva Himself.
kṛṣṇaḥ: (rādhām avalokya) dātum icchasi na kāñcanāni cec cāturīṁ manasi kāñcana śritā gauri gairika-vicitritodarīṁ tvaṁ tataḥ praviśa bhū-bhṛto darīm (iti rādhām āvṛṇoti) (Kṛṣṇa:) (looking at Rādhā) O girl with a golden complexion, if You don’t want to give the gold coins because of some cleverness, you should enter this cave in the mountain, which are beautified with minerals (red clay).(He blocks Her path and is about to embrace Rādhā)
[Dana Keli Kaumudi verse 348]
||3.3.35||
asya sakhyaṁ, yathā –
śrīdāmnaḥ pṛthulāṁ bhumām abhi śiro vinyasya viśrāmiṇaṁ
dāmnaḥ savya-kareṇa ruddha-hṛdayaṁ śayyā-virājat-tanum |
madhye sundari kandarasya padayoḥ saṁvāhanena priyaṁ
devaprastha itaḥ kṛtī sukhayati premṇā vrajendrātmajam ||35||
Devaprastha’s friendship: O beautiful young woman! In a mountain cave, Kṛṣṇa lay down and rested His head in the broad arms of Śrīdāma, with Dāma’s left hand covering His chest. Expert Devaprastha gave pleasure to his beloved Kṛṣṇa by massaging His feet in affection.
[Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 3.3.35]
My notes:
Not with Radha but also a beautiful verse
Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmīpad
mithyaivāyaṁ sṛjati nahi ced dānam etad tato'sau
preyaś candrāvali vara śiraḥ śāpam aṅgīkarotu
smitvā govardhana giridarī gehinī raṅgiṇītthaṁ
vācaṁ lāsyaṁ sakhi vidadhati hāsayamāsa goṣṭhīm
All the assembled sakhīs laughed when Śrī Rādhikā, the playful queen of the caves of Govardhana Hill, jokingly said: "If He (Kṛṣṇa) falsely erected this toll-station He can accept a curse of His beloved Candrāvalī on His fine head!" (106)
[Dana Keli Cintamani verse 106]
Śrīla Haridās dāsjī's ṭīkā
anena dāna līlā prasaṅgānte govardhana giri guhāyāṁ bhāvi vilāsaḥ sūcitaḥ By calling Her govardhana giridarī gehinī, Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī indicates that after the Dāna līlā Śrī Rādhikā will enjoy with Kṛṣṇa in the caves of Govardhana Hill.
ātma-gahvaram abhaṅga-bhujaṅga
tvaṁ vraja drutam ito 'ti-cañcala
āhi-tuṇḍika-varābhimanyukaḥ
sārthakāhvaya upaiti na yāvat
As long as Abhimanyu (a snake catcher, or Rādhā's husband, who lives up to his name) does not come, You'd better quickly leave for Your own cave (home).
Śrīla Haridās dāsjī's ṭīkā:
[..] This is the external meaning. svabhiyoga-pakse tu atma-gahvaram giriraja-gahvaram gaccha — yavat na ko’pi agacchatiti bhavah
The inner meaning is — “Quickly go to Your own cave in Giriraja Govardhana as long as nobody comes.
vrajendra vasati sthale vividha ballabī saṅkule
tvam eva rati mañjari pracura puṇya punjodayā
vilāsa-bhara vismṛta praṇayi mekhalā mārgaṇe
yad adya nija nāthayā vrajasi nāthitā kandaram
O Rati Mañjari! In this abode of the king of Vraja different groups of cowherd girls live. Of them you are the most fortunate one! When Your mistress (Śrī Rādhikā) forgets Her beloved sash of bells due to absorption in Her love-play, She asks You now to fetch it from the cave where She left it!
[Vilāpa Kusumāñjali verse 3]
lajjayāli purataḥ parato māṁ
gahvaraṁ giripater bata nītvā
divya gānam api tat svara-bhedaṁ
śikṣayiṣyasi kadā sadaye tvam
O Sadaye (merciful girl)! When will You shyly take me far away from Your girlfriends to a cave of Govardhana Hill to teach me beautiful songs in different tunes there?
[Vilāpa Kusumāñjali verse 89]
vaidagdhyottara-narma-karmaṭha-sakhī-vṛndaiḥ parītaṁ rasaiḥ
pratyekaṁ taru-kuñja-vallari-giri-droṇīṣu rātrindivam |
nānā-keli-bhareṇa yatra ramate tan navya-yūnor yugaṁ
tat-pādāmbuja-gandha-bandhurataraṁ vṛndāvanaṁ tad bhaje ||7||
I worship the very enchanting abode named Śrī Vṛndāvana, which is made fragrant by the lotus feet of the Adolescent Couple, Who are surrounded there by many laughing and joking girlfriends, who are very expert in all kinds of arts of the amorous mellow and where the Divine Couple passionately sports day and night in the groves, that are surrounded by trees, vines and fresh leaves and in the caves of the mountains.
[Vraja-Vilāsa-Stava verse 7]
saptāhaṁ mura-mardanaḥ praṇayato goṣṭhaika-rakṣotsuko
bibhran-mānam udāra-pāṇi-ramaṇair yasmai salilaṁ dadau
gāndharvā-murabhid-vilāsa-vigalat-kāśmīra-rajyad-guha-
tat khaṭṭāyita-ratna-sundara-śilo govardhanaḥ pātu vaḥ
May Govardhana Hill, who was lovingly held up on the graceful hand of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Who was eager to protect Gokula, for seven days; who was thus given the honour of a worshipable personality by the Lord; whose caves are colored by the saffron, which has fallen from Śrī Gāndharvā and Giridhārī’s bodies during Their loving pastimes and whose boulders are like beautiful jeweled couches for the Divine Couple to sit on, protect you.
[Vraja-Vilāsa-Stava verse 51]
Ananta das Babaji’s tika:
In this way Śrī Girirāja has become blessed by carrying hundreds of charming caves and groves on his body, that are decorated with Śrī-Śrī Rādhā-Mādhava’s necklaces, bangles and garlands, which were broken during Their amorous battles. Śrīmat Rūpa Gosvāmī has written:
gāndharvāyāḥ keli kalā bāndhava!
kuñje kṣuṇṇais tasyāḥ kaṅkaṇa hāraiḥ prayatāṅga
rāsa krīḍā-maṇḍitayopatyakayāḍhya!
pratyāśāṁ me tvaṁ kuru govardhana pūrṇām
"O Govardhana! You are the assistant in Gāndharvā Śrī Rādhā’s artistic pastimes. Your body has been decorated with Śrī Rādhā’s broken bangles and garlands and your valleys have been enriched by having been adorned with Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s Rāsa-pastimes. Please fulfill all my desires!"
[Stavamālā]
yeṣāṁ kvāpi ca mādhavo viharate snigdhair vayasyotkarais
tad-dhātu-drava-puñja-citritatarais tais taiḥ svayaṁ citritaḥ
khelābhiḥ kila-pālanair api gavāṁ kutrāpi narmotsavaiḥ
śrī-rādhā-sahito guhāsu ramate tān śaila-varyān bhaje
I worship the best of mountains in Vraja, like Govardhana, with whose colourful mineral pigments Mādhava and His affectionate friends are decorated as they herd the cows, where they play hide-and seek and in whose caves Kṛṣṇa makes love with Śrī Rādhā.
[Vraja-Vilāsa-Stava verse 65]
yatra govardhano nāma sunirjharadarīyutaḥ. ratna dhātumayaḥ śrīmān supakṣi gaṇa saṅkulaḥ
"Here in Vṛndāvana lies Govardhana, which is beautified with the most excellent brooks, caves and sweetly singing jeweled birds.
[Padma Purana]
pramada-madana-līlāḥ kandare kandare te
racayati nava-yūnor dvandvam asminn amandam
iti kila kalanārthaṁ lagnakas tad-dvayor me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam
O Govardhana! The youthful couple Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa play passionate erotic pastimes in your every cave and I became very eager to witness them. Please allow me to live close to you!
[Goverdhana vasa prarthana dashakam verse 2]
My notes:
Kandare kandare = cave after cave
How does the cave look in Goverdhana? It must be some very nicely and sweet decorated by the manjarisTika from Ananta das Babaji and AdvaitaJi, to Goverdhana vasa prarthana dashakam verse 2: The sweet caves of Govardhana Hill are very solitary and filled with all kinds of paraphernalia suitable for the love-pastimes of the Yugala Kisora, such as soft flower beds, ghee-lamps, garlands, sandalwood pulp, juicy colorful fruits, betelnuts etc. Properly it is also inside the cakes the perfect temperature and very cozy for yugala Kishor. Thus, all these caves are suitable places for the Yugala Kisora’s greatly intoxicated confidential loving pastimes, which only take place in Vraja-mandala and nowhere else.
Jīva Gosvāmī:
ānanda-rūpam iti yad vidanti hi purāvidaḥ | tad-rūpaṁ darśayāsmākaṁ yadi deyo varo hi naḥ || śrutvaitad darśayāmāsa sva-lokaṁ prakṛteḥ param | kevalānubhavānanda-mātram akṣaram avyayam || yatra vṛndāvanaṁ nāma vanaṁ kāma-dughair drumaiḥ | manorama-nikuñjāḍhyaṁ sarvartu-sukha-saṁyutam || yatra govardhano nāma sunirjhara-darī-yutaḥ | ratna-dhātu-mayaḥ śrīmān supakṣi-gaṇa-saṅkulaḥ || yatra nirmala-pānīyā kālindī saritā varā | ratna-baddhobhaya-taṭā haṁsa-padmādi-saṅkulā || śaśvad-rāsa-rasonmattaṁ yatra gopī-kadambakam | tat-kadambaka-madhyasthaḥ kiśorākṛtir acyutaḥ||
Hearing this, Bhagavān showed them His own abode, which is beyond material nature, the unadulterated bliss of the immediate experience of liberation (kevala), imperishable and undecaying. Within that realm is the forest called Vṛndāvana, filled with wish-fulfilling trees, enchanting kunja’s, and the delights of all seasons. Present there is Govardhana Hill, made of precious gems, which is endowed with splendid mountain springs and caves, and replete with flocks of handsome birds. Flowing through that land is the best of rivers, Yamunā, with its sweet clear water, its banks studded with gems, and brimming with swans and lotuses. In that abode there are hosts of gopīs ever intoxicated with the aesthetic relish (rasa) of the rāsa dance. Situated in their midst is Lord Acyuta in the very prime of youth (kiśorākṛti). ||
[Krsna Sandarbha by Jiva Goswami, Anuccheda 106]
śaśi-mukhi śucimāsi madhya-madhyaṁ dinam anu mandira-tulya-śaila-garbhe |
jhara-nikara-parīta-pārśva-deśe saha bhavatīkam ahaṁ mudā śayiṣye ||15|| O moon-faced Rādhā! In Jyeṣṭha month (summer) at noon, in a mountain cave similar to a palace, beside a waterfall, I will lie down happily with you.
[Sankalp kalpavriksa 3.15]
When Ugrasena’s sinful son Kaṁsa heard that Baka had been slain, he became disturbed and began to think, “Ah! They were all expert at deception and killing but were all killed. Therefore I think only Vyomāsura is suitable for this job. He is the son of Sarvamāyāmaya, famous for his strength and highly esteemed.” Thus Kaṁsa, born from the hard womb of Padmavatī, brought Vyomāsura and engaged in him the job. [34] When the cows grazed on pure grass on treeless land on some hill, Kṛṣṇa played his flute to diminish the heat of the sun burning at midday on the forehead. The clouds were strongly pulled by the mallāra-rāga, as if pulled by a wrestling opponent. He thus played on the flute, to make the place cool. [35] The sound of the flute echoed in caves of the large mountains, and then echoed throughout the three worlds. It attracted them for seeing his attractive pastimes. [36] Experiencing this, the gopīs described it in the gathering. [Gopal campu 1.31.34-36]
Kavi Karṇapūra
Chapter One
The Glories of Govardhana
By the Lord's grace Dhruva traveled beyond Maharloka. Similarly, by the mercy of the Lord, Govardhana has surpassed the splendor of Vaikuntha and become famous as the best of mountains. Just as Kartikeya, the commander who is difficult to conquer, supports the king of heaven, Govardhana holds many difficult to enter caves. Many snakes surround the valuable sandalwood trees adorning the Malaya Mountain, but there are no snakes guarding the unlimited treasures found on Govardhana Hill.
[Ananda Vrndavana Campu]
My notes:
The caves are difficult to enter, that means that they are very good for hiding and to have some privacy for Radha and Krsna.
Lord Siva holds the moon in his topknot, but Girirāja's peaks touch the moon. Siva is fearsome, but Govardhana is kind and gentle. As Kṛṣṇa is adorned with forest garlands that reach to His ankles, Govardhana is decorated with long lines of forests. Cascading waterfalls caress all sides of Govardhana. Bhu-mandala is made pleasant by the Loka-loka mountain range, whereas Govardhana pleases the eyes of all devotees. Govardhana is made glorious by banyan trees that distribute joy to everyone. The interiors of its caves are the embodiments of bliss. It is Govardhana's nature to protect the deer and other forest creatures.
[Ananda Vrndavana Campu]
Chapter One
The Glories of Govardhana
Govardhana offers many thrones made of cooling stones for the sitting pleasure of Kṛṣṇa. Its flat, jeweled-studded areas await to serve Kṛṣṇa's rasa dance. Its wonderful caves look more enchanting than temples made of jewels. For serving Kṛṣṇa there are many flower canopies that pour down fragrant pollen when shaken by the wind. The dense cool forests provide soothing relief from the hot sun. Animals such as deer and tigers live there in peace and harmony.
[Ananda Vrndavana Campu]
Chapter Eleven
Pastimes in Summer and Other Seasons
The arrival of the summer season brought a suitable time for Kṛṣṇa to relish refreshing pastimes with Śrī Radha. But when Kṛṣṇa played with Balarāma and the cowherd boys at this time, He felt the scorching heat of summer manifesting within Himself as the burning pain of separation from Rādhikā. Before telling the next pastime, I will describe the summer season in Vṛndāvana. During the summer, the pathways become hard and dry from the blistering heat of the sun. A person's fingernails become brittle and crack. But inside the caves of Govardhana, where Kṛṣṇa secretly enjoys with His beloveds, there is always a soothing and cooling atmosphere due to its natural springs and small ponds of water.
[Ananda Vrndavana Campu]
Chapter Eleven
The Purva-raga of Śrīmati Rādhikā
With His white teeth shining attractively as He smiled in satisfaction, Kṛṣṇa easily stole the hearts of every living entity. Kṛṣṇa's friends quickly prepared His favorite flavored pan from betel nuts, pure white lime paste, fragrant juice of banana that smelled like camphor, and the other items that they had previously collected. Thus being served in various ways, Kṛṣṇa enjoyed His pastimes on Govardhana Hill. Kṛṣṇa took shelter in the caves of Govardhana Hill whenever the clouds sprinkled water. Sitting there biding His time until the rain stopped, Kṛṣṇa appeared like a beautiful baby elephant. The boys entertained that enchanting person by playing a game of shouting loudly into the back of the cave and laughing at the echo. Vibrating deep angry sounds, they said, "Who are you? What are you saying?" The cave filled with clamor. Ordinarily it is offensive to mistreat a giver of shelter. Yet this irreverent behavior in the cave did not fault the cowherd boys, but embellished them with the ability to please Kṛṣṇa. Indeed, they blessed the cave by their presence. Meanwhile, outside the cave it appeared that the rain smiled with its teeth of hailstones falling everywhere. Kṛṣṇa's friends ran outside to pick up the particles of ice and bring them back to the cave. With hands folded as in pushpanjali, they offered the hailstones as flowers to Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet.
When the rain stopped, Kṛṣṇa, whose face outshines the beauty of the full moon, and the cowherd boys, overflowing with bliss, left the cave and ran to the top of Govardhana Hill. Kṛṣṇa sat peacefully on a beautiful emerald rock that glittered brightly after being washed by the rain. His friends fanned Him with a pure white camara that saturated the air with the pleasing fragrance of musk. Hari, who removes all miseries, sat there in great happiness while gazing at the beauty of the forest, which appeared like a reflection of His own body.Glancing over the earth and splendorous sky, Kṛṣṇa called the cows, "Hey Dhavali! Hey Kali! Hey Shavali!" Mooing in response, the cows ran across the valley to stand beside Kṛṣṇa. During the rainy season the forest of Vṛndāvana looked elegant and effulgent. As Kṛṣṇa's body appears to be without qualities when viewed from a distance, the forest lost its detail when illuminated by the bright clouds. The expanse of forest
resembled Kṛṣṇa's attractive body, surrounded by buzzing bees and decorated with a kadamba garland fragrant with honey pollen.
[Ananda Vrndavana Campu]
Chapter Eleven
The Glorious Flute of Kṛṣṇa
While speaking of the Pulindas, that gopī remembered the fortune of Govardhana Hill, and revealed to a friend Her intense desire to meet Kṛṣṇa. She said, "This Govardhana Hill enhances Madhava's pastimes by supplying roots, fruits, water, mineral colors, and caves to hide in. In this way Govardhana is the best servitor of the Lord. It is known that by serving a great devotee one can attain Vishnu. By his selfless service Govardhama has brought Kṛṣṇa under his control."
[Ananda Vrndavana Campu]
Chapter Thirteen
Favoring the Wives of the Brāhmaṇas
Just as the caves (kandar) and gentle wind blowing on Govardhana Hill serve the Lord, similarly, they collected many kinds of root vegetables (kanda) to please the Lord. Before offering them, they artistically arranged all the fragrant, juicy, delicious, and colorful preparations. Just as a woman beautifies herself by wearing golden ornaments, similarly, the varieties of attractive vegetables like sak and sukta embellished the offering.
[Ananda Vrndavana Campu]
Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura
aho te'mī kuñjās tad anupama rāsa-sthalam idaṁ
giridroṇī saiva sphurati rati-raṅge praṇayinī
na vīkṣe śrī rādhāṁ hari hari kuto'pīti śatadhā
vidīryeta prāṇeśvari mama kadā hanta hṛdayam
Aha, Queen of my heart! All these kuñjas, the incomparible place where the Rāsa-dance takes place, and the cave of Govardhana Hill where You play Your loving pastimes are all still here. Hari! Hari! But if I cannot see Śrī Rādhā anywhere, my heart will break into a hundred pieces!
[Rādhā Rasa Sudhānidhi verse 210]
svacchaṁ svacchandam evāsty atimadhura-rasā-nirjharād ambu
pātuṁ bhoktuṁ svādūni kāmaṁ sakala-taru-tale śīrṇa-parṇāni santi |
kāmaṁ niḥśīta-vātaṁ vimala-giri-guhādy asti nirbhāti vastuṁ
śrī-vṛndāraṇyam etat tad api yadi jihāsāmi hā hā hato’smi ||1.16||
There is clear, tasty water to drink from cascades of sweet rasa. Dried leaves at the bases of all the trees are delicious to eat. Cool wind blows suitably and there are spotless mountain caves for staying. If I were to leave Vṛndāvana, I would be ruined.
[Vrndavana Mahimarta 1.16]
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-vilāsa-rañjita-latā-sadmāli-padmākara-
śrī-kālindi-taṭī-paṭīra-vipinādy-adrīndra-sat-kandaram |
jīvātur mama nitya-saubhaga-camatkāraika-dhārākaraṁ
nityānaṅkuśa-varddhamāna-paramāścaryardhi vṛndāvanam ||3.60||
Vṛndāvana, filled with pure caves on Govardhana, groves, fields, and the bank of the Yamunā with lotuses, dwellings, and creepers, all delighting in the pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, is my very life. Vṛndāvana, a stream of eternal, auspicious astonishment, increasing in astonishment at all times, is my life’s sustenance.
[Vrndavana Mahimarta 3.60]
premāndhaṁ paśu-pakṣi-bhūruha-latā-kuñjādri-sat-kandarā-
vāpī-kūpa-taḍāga-sindhu-sarasī-ratna-sthalī-vedibhiḥ |
kālindyāḥ pulinena tat-stha-sakalenāśeṣa-vṛndāvanaṁ
rādhā-mādhava-rūpa-mohitam ahaṁ dhyāyāmi sac-cid-ghanam ||3.76||
I meditate on unlimited Vṛndāvana, composed of condensed sat and cit, enchanted by the beauty of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, with all its places on the bank of the Yamunā, with animals birds, trees, creepers, bowers, mountains, caves, tanks, well, pools, rivers, lakes and jeweled platforms all blinded by prema.
[Vrndavana Mahimarta 3.76]
āścaryair maṇi-parvatair atimahā-śobhāḍhya-sat-kandaraiś
cij-jyotsnāmṛta-nirjharaiḥ kanaka-ratnāmbhaḥ saric-chobhitaiḥ |
pratyagrādbhuta-valli-maṇḍapa-varair āścarya-ratna-drumair
nānā-ratna-maya-sphurat-khaga-mṛgair anyādbhutaiḥ śobhite ||3.105||
Vṛndāvana is beautiful with astonishing jeweled mountains, with most attractive caves, with sweet waterfalls of spiritual light, with glorious rivers whose waters flow with gold and jewels, with astonishing, fresh creeper pavilions, with astonishing jeweled trees, with astonishing birds and animals made of various gems. [Vrndavana Mahimarta 3.105]
cāru-vaktra-candram indranīla-vṛnda-sundaraṁ
divya-keli-vṛnda-nanditādri-rāja-kandaram |
prema-bandha-vandamāna-viśva-vanditendiraṁ
naumi kṛṣṇam eva rādhikā nikuñja-mandiram ||13.75||
I praise Kṛṣṇa, with charming moon-like face, beautiful as a host of sapphires, who performs attractive pastimes in the cave of joyful Govardhana, who is glorified with prema by Lakṣmī, worshipped by the worlds, and who lives in Rādhā’s bower.
[Vrndavana Mahimarta 13.75]
sat-kavīndra-koṭi-kāvya-varṇanāti-dūragair
divya-hema-nirmitā’tidivya-vaibhavair nagaiḥ |
divya-ratna-khāni divya-gaurikādi-dhātubhir
divya-kandare’tisaubhage ca viśvagārcitaiḥ ||15.51||
It has wealthy mountains made of attractive gold, that cannot be described by millions of the best poets, flowing with gairika and other attractive minerals and attractive jewel mines, worshipped by all people in attractive, auspicious caves. [Vrndavana Mahimarta 15.51]
śrī-vṛndāvana-mañju-kuñja-bhavaneṣv adrīndra-sat-kandare
kālindī-puline kadamba-viṭapi-cchāyāsv ati-snehataḥ |
nityaṁ śrī-vṛṣabhānujā-caraṇayor dāsyaika-lāsyodvahe
svāntasyāntar udetu me madhupatāv ādya-ratiḥ pāvanī ||16.46||
May pure mādhurya-rati for Śrī Mādhava arise in my heart, who in Vṛndāvana's beautiful forest-cottages in the kunja, in a beautiful cave on the king of mountains [Govardhana], on the bank of the Yamunā, and in the shade of a kadamba tree, performs the dance of service to the feet of King Vṛṣabhānu's daughter.
Kṛṣṇa dāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī
Even in Caitanya-Caritāmṛta, Mahaprabhu reveals something about the mysterious and secretly cave-pastime of Radha-Krsna in Govardhana:
uṭhi’ mahāprabhu vismita, iti uti cāya ye dekhite cāya, tāhā dekhite nā pāya
Rising up, Prabhu looked this way and that, astonished, but he did not see what he wanted to see Them.
‘vaiṣṇava’ dekhiyā prabhura ardha-bāhya ha-ila svarūpa-gosāñire kichu kahite lāgila
When he saw the Vaishnavas, Prabhu emerged into half-consciousness, and he slowly began
to ask Svarupa Gosvami,
govardhana haite more ke ihāṅ ānila? pāñā kṛṣṇera līlā dekhite nā pāila
Who has brought Me here from Govardhana Hill? I was seeing Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, but now I cannot see them.
ihāṅ haite āji mui genu govardhane dekhoṅ, — yadi kṛṣṇa karena godhana-cāraṇe
Today I went to Govardhana Hill to see if Kṛṣṇa was tending His cows there.
govardhane caḍi’ kṛṣṇa bājāilā veṇu govardhanera caudike care saba dhenu
Climbing up Govarddhana, Krsna was playing his flute, and all around Govardhana were the cows grazing.
veṇu-nāda śuni’ āilā rādhā-ṭhākurāṇī saba sakhī-gaṇa-saṅge kariyā sājani
Hearing the flute-song, Rādhā Thākurāṇī came there. O sakhi, I can not describe Her form and bhava!
rādhā lañā kṛṣṇa praveśilā kandarāte sakhī-gaṇa kahe more phula uṭhāite
Kṛṣṇa took Rādhā by the hand and entered a cave with Her, while the sakhīs told Me to pick some flowers.
hena-kāle tumi-saba kolāhala kailā tāhāṅ haite dhari’ more ihāṅ lañā āilā
And at that time all of you came, making a great uproar, and you dragged me away from this place.
kene vā ānilā more vṛthā duḥkha dite pāñā kṛṣṇera līlā, nā pāinu dekhite”
Why did you bring me away? To give me pain and sorrow! I had a opportunity to Krsna’s lila, but now I couldn’t see Them.
eta bali’ mahāprabhu karena krandana tāṅra daśā dekhi’ vaiṣṇava karena rodana
So saying, Mahaprabhu wept, and seeing his condition the Vaishnavas also wept. [Caitanya-Caritāmṛta Antya 14.103-112]
Govinda-Līlāmṛta
yūtheśvarībhiḥ sa-sakhī-kulābhir
anviṣyamāṇo vana-gahvareṣu |
kathaṁ na labhyo nipuṇābhir etāḥ
prāptāḥ kathaṁ hāsyati vā sa lubdhaḥ ||52||
Seeing the splendor of the forest, she began to think, „Cannot these expert heads of the groups along with their followers find Kṛṣṇa in the forest or caves? And if greedy Kṛṣṇa sees them, why would he leave them?”
[Govinda-Līlāmṛta 8.52]
My notes:
Here Krsna is playing with the gopas in the caves, not with the gopis.
dhanyaṁ vṛndāraṇyaṁ yasmin
vilasati sa vara-ramaṇībhiḥ |
prati-kuñjaṁ prati-pulinaṁ
prati-giri-kandaram asau kṛṣṇaḥ ||43||
Fortunate is Vṛndāvana where Kṛṣṇa plays with the gopīs in every kunja, every river bank and every cave.
[Govinda-Līlāmṛta 17.43]
My notes:
Here in Govinda lilamrita, the most important astaka lila book, which mentions also the cave pastimes of Radha and Krsna, but no details are given, like in Vilapa Kusumanjali verse 3.
śuśubhur acala-daryo yāsu līnā ramaṇyo
hari-hata-danujānāṁ caṇḍa-raṇḍāḥ pulindaiḥ |
aśana-surata-satraiḥ poṣitās toṣam āptās
tad amala-guṇa-gaṇaiḥ śrī -hariṁ tāḥ stuvanti ||46||
(ojasvī, atra darīvarṇana-bhāvasyāṅgaṁ para-strī-rati-rasābhāsas tasyāṅgaṁ
śatru-kṛta-śatru-stuti-rūpa-bhāvābhāsaḥ)
Govardhana’s caves, where the wives of the demons killed by Kṛṣṇa were fed
and given enjoyment by the Pulindas, became glorious in Vṛndāvana, for,
being satisfied, these women now praise Kṛṣṇa for his spotless qualities.
[Govinda-Līlāmṛta 17.46]
My notes:
Also here, Krishna is not with the gopis (Radha).
kālindī-jala-kallola-vihāra-vara-vāraṇam |
ramaṇī-kariṇī-saṅgaṁ giri-kandara-mandiram ||6||
vilāsa-laharī-sindhuṁ capalodāra-kuṇḍalam |
kīra cintaya govindaṁ sarasaṁ bhāsurāṅgadam ||7||
(yugmakaṁ bhāṣāsamāveśaḥ)
O parrot! Remember Kṛṣṇa who is the best elephant playing in the waves of the Yamunā, playing with the female elephants in the form of the gopīs, who makes the caves of Govardhana his palace, who is an ocean containing waves of pastimes, who has moving, energetic earrings and who has elegant, shining bracelets.
[Govinda-Līlāmṛta 18.6-7]
My notes:
Here the same, Krishna is not with the gopis (Radha).
Our (manjari-) sevas in the caves in Goverdhanagovardhana girivara, kevala nirjana sthala,
rāi kānu koribe śayane
lalitā viśākhā saṅge, sevana koribo raṅge,
sukhamaya rātula caraṇe
kanaka sampūṭa kori, karpūra tāmbūla pūri,
yogāibo vadana kamale
maṇimaya kiṅkiṇī, ratana nūpura āni,
porāibo caraṇa yugale
kanaka kaṭorā pūri, karpūra candana bhari,
kobe dibo du’janāra gāya
mallikā mālatī yūthi, nānā phule mālā gāṅthi,
kobe dibo doṅhāra golāya
There is a solitary place (cave) at Govardhana Hill where Rāi and
Kānu lay down to rest and where I will serve Their blissful
ruddy lotus feet in the company of Lalitā and Viśākhā.
I will fill up a golden box with camphor-laced betel leaves and place
them in Their lotus mouths and I will bring jewelled waistbells
and anklebells and place them on Their lotus feet.
When will I fill up a golden box with camphor and sandalwood pulp and
anoint Their limbs with these unguents, and when will I string garlands of various flowers like Mallikā, Mālatī and Yūthi, and hang them around Their necks?" (Prārthanā song 11)
Viśvanātha Cakravarti Thakur
tasyājñayaiva sahasaiva vivastrayiṣye
tvāṁ vīkṣya hṛṣyati sa vai nija-divya-muktā-
mālāṁ pradāsyati lalāṭa-taṭe madīye (48)
O cunning one, a king is sitting within this cave. Let Us go to him. On his order, I will at once remove Your apparel. When he sees You, he will certainly become satisfied and place a divine garland of pearls upon My forehead. [Sankalpa Kalpadruma verse 48] vaṁśīṁ satīṁ guṇavatīṁ subhagāṁ dviṣantyo’
sādhvyo bhavatya iha tat samatām alabdhāḥ |
tāṁ kvāpi bandham anayaṁs tad ahaṁ bhujābhyāṁ
baddhvaiva vaḥ śikhari-gahvaragāḥ karomi ||
Kṛṣṇa will reply, “You unchaste girls hate my faithful, chaste, virtuous, auspicious and beautiful flute, being unable to become her equal. You have stolen and imprisoned her somewhere. I will bind you with the ropes of My arms and imprison you in a cave on this hill."
[Sankalpa Kalpadruma verse 68]
Krsna Bhavanamrita:
Text 6.116
na jñāsyate vraja-purādhipayā vṛthā tvaṁ
kiṁ śaṅkase sva-gṛham ehy anayaiva vīthyā |
ity ādarād giri-guhā-sukha-sadma ninye tāṁ
kṛṣṇa-kānti-ruciraṁ caturā dhaniṣṭhā ||116||
“Yaśodā will not know about this. Why do you uselessly worry? Go by this path to his house. Saying this clever Dhaniṣṭhā carefully led Rādhā to a joyful abode attractive with Kṛṣṇa’s beauty, a cave near Nandīśvara.” Text 7.18
kṣaṇataḥ kṣaṇa-dhuk-kṣaṇa-prabhā
nibha-kāntā niviḍopa-gūhanāt |
sahasā niragād bahir hariḥ
kalayan mitra-kalāpa-jalpitaṁ ||18||
Kṛṣṇa (who is sitting in the cave with Radha) hearing his friends talking near the mountain-cave, where He sat with lighninglike Radhaika, He loosened Himself from Her tight embrace and immediately went to see them.
My notes:
This is most likely the cave near/in Nadisvara which is mentioned in verse 6.166.
My notes:
Krsna speaks to his mother, who is worried that he goes with his friends to the forest in Vrindavan to herding Nandas cows:
Text 7.67
pika-gāyaka-keki-nartakair
bhramad-indindira-vṛnda-vandibhiḥ |
kṣiti-bhṛt-taṭa-kuñja-kandarair
mama ceto'nupadaṁ vikṛṣyate ||67||
“With cuckoos singing, peacocks dancing and bees flying about singing praises, the groves and caves around Govardhana continually attract my heart.
My notes:
Maybe because He enjoys there sweet pastimes with Sri Radha.
Text 7.68
maṇi-mandira-vṛnda-śandatām-
anayad yac-chabhir eva mandatām |
savaścaya-bhūṣitaḥ śaye sukham
atrāpy ati-khidyase kutaḥ ||68||
O mother! The mountain caves are more beautiful than all your jeweled chambers. Decorated with flowers and ornaments by all my friends, I sleep soundly there. Why are you unnecessarily lamenting?
Text 7.69
iti kiṁ ca naṭad-dṛg-añcalaṁ
calitaṁ saṁsad-alakṣitaṁ rahaḥ |
ramaṇī-maṇi-dṛk-taṭī naṭī drutam
āśliṣyad ati-drutāṁ drutaṁ ||69||
As he said this, the tip of his dancing glance moved about secretly, unseen by the assembly, and deftly embraced the dancing glance of Rādhā, which then melted, just as his glance also melted.
Text 10.63
kiṁ hanta sakhyaḥ kuruthāsya pārśvam
āyāta māyā-śata-paṇḍitasya |
naivāti-mugdhā bhavatādya sarvā
hāsyāspadī-bhāvam imaḥ kim andhāḥ ||63||
O sakhīs! What are you doing beside that skilful bewilderer? Come away from him. Do not be fooled. O blind women! Will we all become the object of laughter?
Text 10.64
nītvaiva māṁ tāvad itaḥ palāyya
kvacid girer gahvara eva guptāḥ |
cet tiṣṭhathāvāpsyatha tarhi bhadraṁ
no ced abhūd eva daśā mameyaṁ ||64||
If taking me, you flee from here and hide in a mountain cave somewhere and stay there, you will attain auspiciousness. Otherwise you will end up in my condition.”
Text 10.65
vṛndādayaḥ prāhur aho mahonnatir
māyā-vitāyā giridhāriṇo'dbhutā |
rādhām imāṁ yan niranaiṣur ālayo
rādhā tu sākṣād iyam āgatā parā ||65||
Vṛndā and others spoke. “Kṛṣṇa’s astonishing illusory powers have increased greatly. The Rādhā whom her friends have determined to be sitting nearby has now come from the forest.
Text 10.66
sakhyaḥ kurudhvaṁ yad asau bravīti
vo yātā nayā hanta vihāya mohinīṁ |
śrutveti vṛndāvana-kalpavally api smitaṁ
dadhe labdha-manorathā cirāt ||66||
O friends! Do as this form who came from the forest says (go to the cave) and give up the false form.” Hearing this, Rādhā, the desire creeper of Vṛndāvana, smiled since her desire (to meet Kṛṣṇa) had been achieved after a long time.
Text 13.19
ajani madano raja-mantrī madhur malayānilo
nikhila-vijayi-senānīndraś carā bhramarā iha |
pika-pariṣadaḥ prāpu daṇḍe'dhikāram adakṣiṇā
vraja-kulabhuvo daṇḍyā kārāḥ kṛtā giri-gahvarā ||19||
Here Cupid has become the king. His minister is spring. The Malaya breeze is the head of the all-conquering army. The bees are the emissaries. The assembly of cuckoos are the punishers. The uncooperative (unsubmissive) housewifes of Vraja are to be punished, and the mountain caves are the jail.
Vraja-rīti-cintāmaṇi
yat-kandaraḥ kuñja-vareṇya-puñjāḥ
śrī-kṛṣṇa-keli-rasa-mandirāṇi
pṛthak pṛthak tat-parama-priyādeḥ
saubhāgya-bhāgyottama-yogyatāni
Govardhana Hill's beautiful forests and caves are Kṛṣṇa's nectar pastime palaces, each one perfect for the supreme good fortune of His beloved and Her friends.
[Vraja-rīti-cintāmaṇi 3.3]
yasyāṅga-śobhā na vilobhayanti
kaṁ vā nikuñjeṣu darīśu dṛṣṭāḥ
kṛṣṇasya kāntā-nivahasya hārā-
dibhiḥ padālāktaka-carvitādyaiḥ
The gopīs' necklaces, ornaments, red foot cosmetic, betelnuts, and other paraphernalia gaze on the beauty of Govardhana Hill's groves and caves. Who would not become enchanted by the beauty of Govardhana Hill?
[Vraja-rīti-cintāmaṇi 3.12]
The only visible cave in GovardhanaThat there are no caves visible in Govardhana is not fully true, there is one visible cave in Govardhana.
The cave is called Raghava gufa (cave), in Govardhana at Pucchari.
Raghava Pandit was an associate of Mahaprabhu, he did his bhajan in this cave.
Some of my favorite pictures of Govardhana Hill
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