Radha Krishna - Chapter 20: The Rainy Season and Autumn in Vrindâvana*

(1) S'rî S'uka said: 'The cowherd boys described to the ladies [of Gokula] the amazing actions of the two by whom they were delivered from the forest fire and Pralamba had been killed. (2) The elder gopas and gopîs also surprised to hear that considered both Krishna and Râma messengers of God who had come to Vraja.

(3) Then with flashes of lightening at the horizon and rumbling skies commenced the rains that give life to all living beings. (4) The sky covered by dense, dark clouds accompanied by lightening and thunder was, with its diffuse light, like the spirit soul that is manifest with its material qualities. (5) For eight months had the sun with its rays drunk the wealth of the earth in the form of water and now had the time arrived proper for its release. (6) Great clouds full of lightening agitated by the fierce winds released, just like the persons of mercy in this world, indeed their gratification of all life. (7) Dried of the heat was the earth, sprinkled by the divine, fully replenished just like the sensually motivated body of someone of penance is after obtaining the fruits of that practice. (8) Of the darkness could in the evening twilight the glowworm shine but not the luminaries just like in Kali-yuga of the sins the heresies are shining and certainly not the Vedas. (9) Hearing the resounding of the rain clouds emitted the frogs, who before sat silent, their sounds just like the ones of Brahmâ sound their voices after their morning routines [see niyama]. (10) The rivers that had dried up next, from first being insignificant streams, strayed from their courses just like it happens with the body, the property and the means of a person who is controlled by his senses. (11) Emerald of the green of newly grown grass, reddish of indragopa insects and affording the mushrooms shelter, manifested the earth herself like a person who suddenly became rich. (12) The fields rich with grains gave the farmers joy but made others feel sorry [not to have things by grace, others] who being falsely proud do not understand the will of God. (13) The creatures of the water and the land, all new of the water in recourse, took on attractive forms like people do when they render service to the Lord. (14) The rivers with turbulence meeting with the ocean created waves blown up by the wind, just like the mind driven by desire gives reactions with an immature yogi bound to the material qualities. (15) The mountains besieged by clouds filled with rain stood undaunted under their attack, just like the minds of the ones dedicated to the Lord in the Beyond are undaunted when they meet with trouble. (16) The roads no longer used faded away grown over by grass, just like written texts do which, not studied by the brahmins, wither away under the influence of time. (17) The lightening in the clouds that are the friends of all the world did, fickle in its friendship, not keep its position, just like a lusty woman can't being fickle with virtuous men. (18) When the [rain-]bow of the great Indra unstringed but clearly defined appeared in the sky was it as if the Supreme Personality Free from the Modes had appeared within the manifest of nature that is ruled by the modes. (19) The moon was not shining because its light had been covered by clouds that radiated [thereof], the same way a living being shines from within while its lustre is being covered by false ego. (20) Because of the arrival of the clouds cried the peacocks joyously in celebration, the same way people in distress rejoice and within their homes find happiness when the devotees of Acyuta arrive. (21) The trees having drunk the water through their feet assumed various bodily features [like blossoms, leaves and sprouts] like it happens when, previously emaciated and fatigued of austerities, one may [finally] delight in the object of one's desire. (22) The cranes stayed at the banks of the restless lakes, my best, much like citizens feverishly keep themselves busy in their homes with a mind perturbed. (23) When Indra showers his rains break of the floodwater the irrigation dikes just as the false theories of the heretics in Kali-yuga breach with the path of the Vedas. (24) The clouds driven by the winds released their nectarean water over all living beings like kings do from time to time, encouraged by the brahmins, with their donations in charity.

(25) Thus was that most resplendent forest with its ripe dates and jambu fruits, around which the cows and boys were crowding, entered by the Lord and Balarâma in order to play there. (26) The cows because of their so very heavy udders moving slowly came quickly upon being called by the Lord, being wet at their udders out of their love. (27) Sometimes when it rained entered the Supreme Lord a hollow tree or a cave and enjoyed He it to eat the roots and fruits. (28) He observed the joyful girls living in the forest with its trees dripping sweet sap and the waterfalls of the mountain resounding from the nearby caves. (29) The yogurt-rice brought from home He in the company of Sankarshana ate together with the boys sharing on a stone near the water.

(30 -31) On a grass patch sat the bulls, ruminating with their eyes closed, with the calves and the cows tired because of the weight of their milkbags. To see the riches of the rainy season, that had expanded from His internal potency, always gave the Supreme Lord pleasure and made Him offer His respects.

(32) With the two of Râma and Kes'ava dwelling this way in Vraja manifested the season of fall itself in full with a cloudless sky, the clearest water and a gentle wind. (33) In autumn the lotuses regenerated and regained the bodies of water their original state [of purity], the way the minds of the fallen are restored by the practice of devotional service. (34) Just like devotion for Lord Krishna with all the status groups [âs'ramas] clears all inauspiciousness, cleared the autumn season the turbid water, the muddy condition of the earth, the crowding of the animals [in their pens] and the cloudy sky. (35) The clouds having given all they had shone forth with an effulgence as pure as of sages who, having given up on all desires, are pacified being freed from all propensities. (36) Then the mountains released their pure water and then they did not so, just as the nectar of spiritual knowledge only at times is bestowed by the jñânis [the spiritual philosophers]. (37) Those moving in the shallow water [the fish] were not appreciative of the water getting less [after the rains] just like foolish people in a family setting do not appreciate the day by day diminishing of their life span. (38) They, moving in the shallow water, as a consequence of the autumn sun experienced hardship just like a man destitute experiences misery when he without the control over his senses is absorbed in his family life. (39) Gradually the land had to give up its mud and had the plants to give up their unripe condition, just like the sober ones have to give up on the egotism and possessiveness of being focussed on the non-spiritual of the material body and what belongs to it. (40) The waters became motionless as did the ocean quiet with the arrival of fall, just as when the self desisting, of a sage completely forsaking, gives up the sacred work [see also avadhûta and 7.13]. (41) With sturdy irrigation dikes contained the farmers the water of the rice fields the same way yogis stop the stream of consciousness which reaches outside through the senses. (42) The suffering of all creatures because of the rays of the autumn sun was taken away by the moon like the suffering, based on the false identification with the body or with [the missing of] Mukunda - as the ladies of Vraja do -, is driven away by wisdom. (43) The cloudless sky in the fall shone brilliantly clear and starry just like the mind endowed with goodness does directly experiencing the purport of the Vedas. (44) The moon and the stars shone forth in the sphere of the sky unbroken alike the master of the Yadus, Krishna, did walking the earth surrounded by the circle of the Vrishnis [see family-tree]. (45) Embracing the wind not too cold and not too hot from the flower-filled forest could the people forget the hardship, but not so the gopîs whose hearts were stolen by Krishna. (46) The cows, the doe, the she-birds and the women found their fertility in autumn just like deeds in service of the Supreme Lord are followed by their respective mates, the good results. (47) O King, the lotuses bloomed abundantly with the rising of the sun except for the night-blooming kumut lotus, the same way as the populace, except for the thieves, blossoms without fear with a [righteous] king. (48) In the towns and villages with harvest rituals and other mundane celebrations and great festivals, shone the earth ripe with her grains, as an expansion of Him being rich with the two [of Krishna and Balarâma] who were so completely the Lord Supreme. (49) Like the ones perfected finding their subsistence [or form aspired] when the time is ripe, could the merchants, the renunciates, the kings and the initiates, [who before were] checked by the rains, [now] venture to achieve their goals.'