https:kids.iskcondesiretree.com:eBooks:Krishna_Book:Krishna_Book.pdf

 Index 1. Advent of Shri Krishna 2. Yashoda Dulal 3. Balyalila 4. Childhood Games 5. Govinda 6. Kumarlila 7. Kishorlila 8. Rasalila 9. Gopinath 10. Radha Krishna 11. Mathuralila 12. Dwarkadish 13. Activities in Dwaraka 14. Final Pastimes  Advent of Shri Krishn...

 Index 1. Advent of Shri Krishna 2. Yashoda Dulal 3. Balyalila 4. Childhood Games 5. Govinda 6. Kumarlila 7. Kishorlila 8. Rasalila 9. Gopinath 10. Radha Krishna 11. Mathuralila 12. Dwarkadish 13. Activities in Dwaraka 14. Final Pastimes  Advent of Shri Krishna Once when the entire world was overburdened by the demons, demigods prayed to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu informed them He would soon appear as the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. After the marriage of Vasudeva and Devaki, while returning home on a chariot driven by Kamsa, an ominous voice addressed Kamsa, warning him that Devaki's eighth son would kill him. Hearing the omens, Kamsa took up a sword to kill Devaki. Then, Vasudeva pacified Kamsa. Kamsa did not kill Devaki but imprisoned both Vasudeva and Devaki. As foretold by the Lord, He entered the womb of Mother Devaki and all the demigods came to offer their prayers. Lord Krishna took His birth as the eighth son of Vasudeva and Devaki. He appeared in His four-handed Vishnu form. Vasudeva and Devaki offered their prayers to Lord Krishna. Then, the Lord ordered Vasudeva to take Him to Gokula and exchange Him with the daughter born to Mother Yashoda. At that time all the doorkeepers were in deep sleep and the doors automatically opened. Vasudeva carried Krishna to Gokula. Lord Anantasesha spread His hoods to give the Lord shelter. Reaching Gokula, Vasudeva exchanged Krishna with the daughter born to Mother Yashoda and retured back to the prison in Mathura. Kamsa tried to kill the newborn child of Mother Devaki, but the child rose above his head and appeared as the eight-armed form of Durga. Mother Durga then told Kamsa that the Lord had taken birth somewhere else. Hearing this, Kamsa ordered his men to kill all children who were born within ten days. In Gokula, Nanda Maharaja arranged for a magnificent birth ceremony. Fearing Kamsa, Nanda Maharaj secretly performed the name giving ceremony of Krishna and Balarama by Garga Muni. Garga Muni said that the child would have power, beauty, and opulence, all on the level of Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. nanda ke ānanda bhāiyo jaya kanhaiyā lāl kī jaya kanhaiyā lāl kī jaya kanhaiyā lāl kī hathi dīnī ghoḍā dīnī ane dīnī pālakī nanda ke ānanda bhāiyo jaya kanhaiyā lāl kī javāneń ko hāthi ghoḍe buḍḍheń ko palki nanda ke ānanda bhāiyo jaya kanhaiyā lāl kī And Krishna became the darling of Vrindavan because of His uncommon activities.  Balyalila Kamsa sent Putana demoness, who was wandering here and there killing small babies. Putana tried to feed Krishna her poison smeared breast milk, but Krishna sucked her life air and killed her. Once when mother Yashoda put Krishna underneath a household cart, Krishna kicked the cart and killed the demon Shakatasura. One day, Trinavarta, one of the servants of Kamsa, appeared as a whirlwind and took Krishna away. Krishna grasped the demon by his neck so tightly that the demon died immediately. Once when baby Krishna yawned, mother Yashoda could see within His mouth the entire universal manifestation. Krishna and Balarama would sometimes steal butter from the gopis homes. One day, Krishna having been interrupted in His business of sucking the breast, became very angry. He entered a room and began to eat the freshly churned butter. When Krishna and Balarama stole butter and distributed the butter to the monkeys, mother Yashoda chased them with a stick in hand. As soon as Krishna saw His mother, He immediately ran away, and mother Yashoda followed Him. Krishna cried and rubbed His eyes again and again with His two lotus hands. His eyes were fearful, Mother Yashoda caught Krishna and bound Him to a grinding mortar. Krishna crawled with the mortar in the courtyard and pulled down the two yamala- arjuna trees, and delivered Nalakuvara and Manigriva. Nalakuvara and Manigriva were condemned by Narada Muni to become trees. One day, Krishna took some grain in His little palms and went to the vendor to exchange the grains for fruit. On the way, almost all the grains fell from His palms, only one or two grains remained. The fruit vendor, out of full affection, accepted these grains in exchange for as much fruit as Krishna could take. As soon as she did this, her basket became filled with gold and jewels. Later, fearing the demons, the inhabitants of Gokula left Gokula and went to Vrindavana. There Krishna killed Vatsasura and Bakasura.  Kaumaralila One day Krishna wanted to enjoy a picnic lunch within the forest, and therefore He went out early into the forest with the other cowherd boys, accompanied by their respective groups of calves. While they were enjoying their picnic, Aghasura, assumed the form of a python. Krishna's cowherd friends entered within the mouth of this gigantic python. As soon as Krishna entered within the demon's mouth, Krishna expanded His body to such an extent that the demon suffocated and died. While Krishna and His friends were enjoying their picnic, Lord Brahma stole the calves and later stole the cowherd boys. Not finding the boys and calves, Krishna expanded Himself to become the calves and boys, exactly as they were before. Because of this the parents of the cowherd boys became more attached to their respective sons, and the cows became more attached to their calves. When one full year had passed, Lord Brahma returned and saw that Krishna was still engaged as usual with His friends and the calves and cows. Then Krishna exhibited to Brahma, all the calves and cowherd boys as four-armed forms of Narayana. Seeing this Lord Brahma was astonished and he offered prayers to Krishna. Lord Brahma offered his obeisance’s to Krishna and begged for His forgiveness. When the cowherd boys wanted to enjoy the sweet fruits of Talavana, Krishna and Balarama killed the demon Dhenuka and his associates. In the island of the snakes, Kaliya would eat offerings meant for Garuda. Hearing of this, Garuda beat Kaliya with his wing. In fear of Garuda, Kaliya fled for his life to the Yamuna river. In Vrindavan, the cows and cowherd boys being thirsty drank the Yamuna water contaminated with Kaliya's poison, and they all fell unconscious. Krishna brought them back to life by His merciful glance. Krishna then climbed onto a kadamba tree and jumped into the water. Kaliya enwrapped Krishna in his coils. Krishna then began playfully dancing about on Kaliya's hoods and trampled his one thousand hoods until his body slackened. Seeing how very weary Kaliya had become, his wives bowed down at Krishna's lotus feet. Then they offered Him various prayers in hopes of gaining their husband's freedom. Satisfied by their prayers, Krishna released Kaliya. In a distressed voice, Kaliya acknowledged the offense he had committed and finally offered Krishna many prayers.  Kishorlila-I Once, Krishna and His friends played a game where the losers would have to carry the winners on their shoulders. Pralambasura disguised himself as a cowherd boy and carried Balarama away. Balarama struck Pralambasura a ferocious blow on his head. Pralambasura repeatedly vomited blood and fell on the ground dead. One other day the cowherd boys became absorbed in sporting and the cows wandered into a dense forest. Suddenly a forest fire blazed up threatening both boys and the cows. Krishna swallowed up the fierce forest fire and saved His friends and cows. Every day early in the morning the young gopis would go to the Yamuna to bathe. Once, Krishna came there and took away all their garments and climbed a nearby kadamba tree. The gopis requested for their clothes. Following Krishna's instructions the Gopis got their clothes and satisfied Krishna. ….once, the brahmanas' wives feed Krishna, Balarama and all the cowherd boys and attained the One day when Krishna saw the cowherd men preparing for a sacrifice to Lord Indra, He asked them to worship Govardhana. Lord Indra became very angry at the residents of Vraja for cancelling his sacrifice, so he sent forth devastating rains to punish them. To protect the residents of Vrindavana, Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill. Ashamed of having attacked Vrindavana with a violent storm, Indra begged for forgiveness from Krishna. Once, Nanda Maharaj decided to take his bath in Yamuna at the very end of the night. A servant of Varuna took Nanda Maharaj away to the demigod's abode. Not finding Nanda Maharaj, Krishna immediately went to see Varuna. There Varuna worshiped Krishna and released Nanda Maharaj. Desiring to enjoy pastimes during an autumn night Krishna began to play His flute.  Kishorlila-II When the gopis heard the flute's sound, they immediately abandoned all their household duties and hastily went to meet Krishna. Wanting to please the gopis, Krishna responded to their appeals by playing with them in various pastimes. But when this show of attention made them a little proud, He humbled them by suddenly disappearing from the arena of the rasa dance. Not finding Krishna the gopis went back to the shore of the Yamuna and simply sang Krishna's glories in utter helplessness and enacted Krishna's pastimes. Later, while wandering in the forest, the gopis learned that Krishna had taken Radharani in seclusion. Because of the special attention Radharani received from Krishna, she felt proud. So Krishna disappeared, leaving Radharani alone. Then the gopis saw Radharani in separation of Krishna. When all the gopis were extremely disturbed by their separation from Krishna, Krishna appeared and consoled them. Then Krishna expanded Himself and danced with each of the gopis in the forests along the Yamuna River. Gradually the gopis became fatigued from the continuous dancing and singing, and each of them enjoyed in the company of Krishna. Later, Krishna enjoyed with the gopis in the Yamuna River.  Kishorlila-III Later, the cowherd men and their family members had gone to the Ambikavana forest to worship Lord Shiva. While sleeping there a hungry serpent began to swallow Nanda Maharaj. Krishna then touched the serpent with His lotus foot and the serpent was immediately freed from his reptilian body and appeared in his original form as a demigod. Thus, Nanda Maharaj was saved. Later, when Krishna and Balarama were enjoying pastimes in the forest with the young women of Vraja a demon named began abducting the gopīs. Kṛ ṣṇa chased after him and with a blow of His fist removed Shankhacuda's jewel, together with his head. Once everyone in Krishna's cowherd village became terrified when Aristasura approached it, but the Lord pacified them. Then Krishna grabbed Aristasura's horns and threw him to the ground and thrashed him like a pile of wet clothing. The demon vomited blood and gave up his life. Wh en Keshi demon tried to strike Krishna with his front legs, Krishna seized them and whirled the demon around. Krishna then thrust His left arm into the horse demon's mouth and expanded His arm choking the demon. In extreme agony Keshi gave up his life.  Mathuralila Following Kamsa's orders to bring Krishna and Balarama to Mathura, Akrura prepared his chariot and set off for Gokula. In Gokula, Akrura saw Krishna's lotus footprints on the path and embraced it. When Akrura was taking Krishna and Balarama to Mathura from Gokula the cowherd girls began to chant Krishna's names and cried. The Gopis try to Stop Krishna and Balarama from leaving. On the way back to Mathura, Akrura stopped to bathe in the Yamuna. He was startled to see the two Lords standing in the water. When Akrura came out of the river he also saw them on the chariot. Then Akrura saw in the water four-armed Lord Vasudeva and the demigods. Akrura joined his palms and began to pray to the Supreme Lord in a choked voice. On reaching Mathura, Krishna and Balarama took the cowherd boys with Them to see the splendorous city. As they all entered Mathura, the women of the city eagerly came out of their houses to see Krishna and Balarama. Krishna asked for some first-class garment from Kamsa's washerman, but he refused so Krishna became very angry and beheaded him with His fist. Krishna and Balarama then went to the house of the garland-maker Sudama, who adorned Them with garlands of fragrant flowers. Sudama worshiped Krishna and Balarama and chanted prayers in Their honor. The two Lords offered benedictions he wished and moved on. Krishna and Balarama then arrived at the arena where they saw a wonderful bow. Krishna forcibly picked up the bow, easily strung it and in an instant broke it in half. At the gate of the wrestling arena Krishna and Balarama encountered Kuvalayapida elephant, who attacked Them. But Krishna yanked out one of the elephant's tusks and killed it. Krishna then grabbed Chanura's arms, whirled him around several times and threw him to the ground, killing him. Mushtika met a similar fate after being struck powerfully by Lord Baladeva's palm. Krishna then leapt onto the lofty royal dais, grabbed Kamsa by the hair, hurled him down onto the floor of the wrestling ring and threw Himself on top of him. In this way, Kamsa met his death. Krishna and Balarama then met Mother Devaki and Vasudeva. King Ugrasena was enthrowned the king of Mathura. Krishna and Balarama then went to Garga Muni to take the vow of brahmacarya, celibacy. Sandipani Muni, pleased by Their service, imparted to Them detailed knowledge. Before taking leave of Their guru, Sandipani Muni seeing Their amazing prowess, requested Them to bring back his son, who had died in the ocean at Prabhasa. Krishna asked the ocean to return His spiritual master's son, and the lord of the ocean replied that a demon dwelling within the ocean named Pancajana had taken the boy away. Hearing this, Krishna entered the ocean, killed that demon. But when Krishna did not find His guru’s son within the demon's belly, He went to the planet of Yamaraja. Hearing Krishna's conchshell, Yamaraja came forward and Krishna asked for His guru’s son. On this Yamaraja immediately gave the son to Krishna and Balarama. Once, Krishna asked Uddhava to take news of Him to Vraja. When Uddhava reached Vraja, the gopis encircled Uddhava and spoke to him. One gopi, while meditating on Krishna, imagining the bee to be a messenger from Krishna begin to speak to the bee. She then declared that although Krishna may have abandoned the gopis, they could not possibly stop remembering Him for even a moment. Uddhava then consoled the gopis and returned to Mathura. Krishna then visited Trivakra, who offered Krishna sandalwood paste. Thus she attained the rare personal association of Krishna.  Dwarkalila Knowing that Jarasandha and Kalayavana might endanger the Yadavas, Krishna constructed a wonderful Dwaraka city within the sea as a safe haven for the Yadavas. Once Kalayavana ran toward Krishna from behind, wanting to fight with Him. Krishna entered the cave, whereupon Kalayavana followed Krishna and saw a man lying on the ground. Thinking the sleeping man as Krishna, Kalayavana kicked him. The man stared harshly at him, igniting a fire in Kalayavana's body and in a moment burned him to ashes. The sleeping man was Mucukunda. Krishna told Mucukunda who He was and also offered him a boon. Later, when Jarasanda attached Dwarka, Krishna and Balarama climbed a mountain. Wanting to kill them Jarasanda set fire to the mountain, but Krishan and Balarama jumped from the mountain peak. Then a brahmana arrived at Dwarka bring the message of Rukminidevi for Krishna. Then Krishna immediately left to meet Rukminidevi. When Rukminidevi left the Ambika temple, Krishna took her onto His chariot. Rukminidevi's brother Rukmi, who hated Krishna, set out with his army to attack Krishna. When Krishna was about to kill him, Rukminidevi pleaded to spare her brother's life. Krishna did not kill Rukmi, but with His sword shaved off bits of Rukmi's hair here and there, leaving him disfigured. Krishna then took Rukminidevi to His capital, Dwaraka and married her. Later, Rukmini devi gave birth to Pradyumna, who was kiddnaped by Sambara demon, who threw Pradyumna into the ocean. A powerful fish swallowed Pradyumna. The fish was caught by a fishmen. The fisherman gave the fish to the King, who sent the fish to his kitchen. When the cook cut open the fish, he found a Pradyumna within its belly. Within a very short time, Pradyumna grew to youthful maturity, and married Ratideva. Pradyumna then killed Shambara demon and returned to Dwarka. Later, Krishna recovered the Syamantaka jewel to allay false accusations against Him and married the daughters of Jambavan and Satrajit. In an arena Krishna subdued the seven bulls and married the daughter of King Nagnajit. Subsequently, Krishna married Bhadra, and Laksmana. After Narakasura stole Lord Varuna's umbrella and mother Aditi's earrings, Krishna with Queen Satyabhama went to the demon's kingdom and decapitated the Mura demon with His disc. Naraka threw his shakti lance at Krishna, but the weapon proved ineffective. Krishna cut the demon's entire army to pieces. Finally, with His sharp-edged disc Krishna cut off Narakasura's head. Then Krishna married the 16,000 maidens whom the demon had kidnapped and held captive.  Activities in Dwaraka One day Krishna sat at ease in Queen Rukmini's bedroom and provoked anger in her with joking words. Rukminidevi began to cry, and soon she became stunned in extreme fear, pain and sadness and fell unconscious. Krishna then lifted Rukimi devi and consoled her. Banasura was a faithful follower of Lord Shiva. Once Usha, the daughter of Banasura kidnapped Krishna's grandson, Aniruddha who was then captured by Banasura. Krishna attacked Banasura and Lord Shiva joined with his associates. Krishna cut off Banasura's arms. Then Shiva approached Krishna and prayed for Banasura's life. On the request of Lord Shiva, Krishna did not kill Banasura but instead blessed him that he will be free from old age and death, and remain fearless in all circumstances. Later, Krishna arranged for His son's and daughter's marriage, and during Aniruddha's marriage ceremony, Balarama killed Rukmi. Once Krishna released King Nriga from a curse and instructed the royal order on the great danger of taking a brahmana's property. King Nriga then offered his repeated obeisances to Krishna. Dvivida, who was a friend of Narakasura, wanted to avenge the death of his friend. Dvivida kidnapped men and women and imprisoned them in mountain caves, which he sealed off with boulders. Around the same time Balarama visited Gokula to see His relatives and friends. There He enjoyed the company of the cowherd girls. Wandering about the forest Balarama pulled the Yamuna, when she ignored His command. Then the goddess Yamuna appeared, and prayed for forgiveness. The Lord let her go and then enjoyed in her waters. At that time Dvivida made crude gestures to the women. Dvivida's outrageous behavior angered Balarama. Balarama struck Dvivida's throat and shoulder, at which point the ape vomited blood and died. While Balarama was visiting Vraja, King Paundraka encouraged by fools, announced that he was the real Vasudeva. Hearing this, Krishna went to Kashi to fight him. Seeing Krishna, Paundraka quickly came out of the city with his army. Krishna annihilated the armies of Paundraka and Kashiraja, beheaded Paundraka and Kashiraja and returned to Dwarka. Narada Muni wanted to observe Lord Krishna's diverse activities in His unique family situation so he visited Dwaraka. Narada Muni was amazed to see the household pastimes of Lord Krishna. Later, when Krishna visited Indraprastha the Pandavas celebrated Lord Krishna's arrival with great festivity. Lord Krishna received the honor of first worship during the Rajasuya sacrifice. Shishupala, could not tolerate this and he continued to blaspheme Lord Krishna. Then Krishna decapitated Shishupala with His disc. At that moment an effulgent spark of light rose out of Shishupala's dead body and entered the transcendental body of Lord Krishna. After the Rajasuya sacrifice, Prince Duryodhana was humiliated in King Yudhisthira's palace. Shalva who had been defeated at the time of Rukminidevi's marriage attacked Dwaraka in Lord Krishna's absence. When Lord Krishna returned to Dwaraka, He took up His disc and severed Shalva's head. At that time the demigods in the sky played kettledrums in jubilation.  Final pastimes When Balarama heard that the Pandavas and Kauravas were about to go to war, He left Dwaraka on the pretext of going on pilgrimage. Greatly angered by Romaharsana Suta's offense, Balarama killed him with the tip of a blade of kusha grass. The bramanas requested Balarama to kill Killed demon Balvala, who had been polluting the sacrificial arena. To satisfy the request of the brahmanas at Naimisharanya, Lord Balarama immediately dragged him Balvala down with His plow and angrily smashed the demon's head with His club. Once, Krishna's childhood friend, Sudama, visited Dwaraka seeking charity. Seeing him from a distance, Krishna immediately rose from His seat and greeted Sudama with great joy. Krishna then sat Sudama down on the bed and washed his feet with His own hands. The poor brahmana was ashamed to present Krishna with his meager gift of flat rice. Krishna then took the hand of His friend, and the two of them reminisced about the things they had done together long ago, while living in the school of their spiritual master. Sudama pointed out that Krishna engages in the pastime of acquiring education only to set an example for human society. Later, hearing that a total eclipse of the sun was soon to occur people from all over Bharata-varsa, including the Yadavas, converged at Kuruksetra to earn special pious credit. There Krishna met Nanda Maharaj and the other residents of Vrindavana and gave them great joy. Once, wanting to kidnap Subhadra and marry her, Arjuna disguised himself as a renunciant and went to Dwaraka. Balarama was at first greatly angered to hear of this, but when Krishna and other family members pacified Him, He became joyful and sent the bride and groom off with elaborate wedding gifts. Once when Krishna and Arjuna wanting to recover the dead sons of brahmana, came to the water of the Causal Ocean, where they saw the thousand-hooded serpent Ananta and upon Him lay Maha-Vishnu. Krishna and Arjuna took the brahmana's sons and went back to Dwaraka and returned the infants to their father. Krishna expertly arranged the great Kuruksetra battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas and thus removed the earth's burden to a great extent. Once, the sages cursed the Yadu family boys when they playfull dressed Samba as a pregnant woman and inquired from the sages about the fruitfulness of the pregnancy. The sages cursed the mocking boys by saying, "She will give birth to a club that will destroy your family." Fearing the brahmana's curse, King Ugrasena ordered the club ground to powder and thrown into the ocean. Yadavas abandoned Dwaraka and went to Prabhasa. There they became absorbed in festivity, and by the illusory power of Krishna they became intoxicated from drinking liquor. Thus losing their intelligence, they quarreled among themselves and began killing one another, until not a man was left alive. Afterward, Lord Balarama went to the shore of the ocean and by the mystic strength of yoga gave up His body. Once when Krishna sat down silently upon the ground, He instructed Uddhava. Later, a hunter mistaking the sole of the Lord's foot for a deer, pierced it with an arrow. The hunter immediately understood his mistake and, falling at the feet of Lord Krishna begged to be punished. In reply Lord Krishna told the hunter that what he had done was actually according to His own desire. Then Lord Krishna returned to His own abode, along with all the Yadus.