KṚṢṆA’S FOOTPRINTS It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that when Akrūra, who drove Kṛṣṇa from Vṛndāvana to Mathurā, saw the footprints of Kṛṣṇa on the land of Vṛndāvana, his ecstatic love for Kṛṣṇa increased so much that … Read More
KṚṢṆA’S CONCH SHELL Kṛṣṇa’s conch shell is known as Pāñcajanya. This Pāñcajanya conch is also mentioned in the Bhagavad-gītā. Kṛṣṇa sounded it before the Battle of Kurukṣetra. It is said that when Lord Kṛṣṇa blows on … Read More
THE ATTRACTION OF KṚṢṆA’S LEG BELLS A certain gopī once stated to her friend, “My dear friend, when I heard the sound of the leg bells of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, I immediately started to go out of … Read More
KṚṢṆA’S BUFFALO HORN Kṛṣṇa used a buffalo horn as a bugling instrument. This instrument was always highly polished and circled with gold bands, and on the middle there was a hole. Regarding these instruments, there is … Read More
KṚṢṆA’S FLUTE As far as His flute is concerned, it is said that the vibration of this wonderful instrument was able to break the meditation of the greatest sages. Kṛṣṇa was thus challenging Cupid by advertising … Read More
KṚṢṆA’S TRANSCENDENTAL QUALITIES, HIS UNCOMMON ACTIVITIES AND HIS SMILE As far as Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities are concerned, they can be divided into three groups: qualities pertaining to His transcendental body, qualities pertaining to His transcendental speech … Read More
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Stimulation for Ecstatic Love Some things that give impetus or stimulation to ecstatic love of Kṛṣṇa are His transcendental qualities, His uncommon activities, His smiling features, His apparel and garlands, His flute, His buffalo … Read More
ETERNAL PERFECTION Persons who have achieved eternal, blissful life exactly on the level of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and who are able to attract Lord Kṛṣṇa by their transcendental loving service, are called eternally perfect. The technical name … Read More
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE Devotees of Kṛṣṇa A person who is always absorbed in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called a devotee of Kṛṣṇa. Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī says that all the transcendental qualities discussed previously are also found in the … Read More
MAGNANIMOUS Persons who can give themselves to anyone are called magnanimous. No one could be more magnanimous than Kṛṣṇa because He is always prepared to give Himself completely to His devotee. Even to one who is … Read More
METICULOUS DRESSER A person who is very fond of dressing himself is called lalita, or a meticulous dresser. This characteristic was found in Kṛṣṇa in two ways: sometimes He used to decorate Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī with various … Read More
PREDOMINATING A person who can affect the mind of everyone is called predominating. As far as Kṛṣṇa’s predomination is concerned, in the Tenth Canto, forty-third chapter, verse 17 of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Kṛṣṇa is described thus by Śukadeva … Read More
STEADY A person who is not disturbed even in a situation of reverses is called steady. This steadiness was observed in Kṛṣṇa in connection with His chastising the demon known as Bāṇa. The Bāṇa demon had … Read More
DEPENDABLE Any person who is reliable in all circumstances is called dependable. In this connection Rūpa Gosvāmī says that even the demons were relying upon the dependability of Kṛṣṇa because they were confident that Kṛṣṇa would … Read More
PLEASING When one’s characteristics are very sweet and desirable, his personality is called pleasing. An example of Kṛṣṇa’s pleasing nature is thus described in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam: “One day while Kṛṣṇa was awaiting the arrival of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī … Read More
ENJOYING When a person is seen to be always happy and is accustomed to speak smilingly, he is considered to be in the mode of enjoyment. This trait was found in Kṛṣṇa when He appeared at … Read More
DECORATED It is said that a person is great if he is decorated with the qualities of being very merciful toward the unfortunate, very powerful, superior, chivalrous, enthusiastic, expert and truthful. These decorations were manifested in … Read More
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR Further Traits of Śrī Kṛṣṇa After describing the different opulences of Kṛṣṇa, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī tries to further describe the transcendental beauties and qualities of the Lord as decorated, enjoying, pleasing, dependable, steady and … Read More
DHĪRODDHATA A person who is very envious, proud, easily angered, restless and complacent is called dhīroddhata by learned scholars. Such qualities were visible in the character of Lord Kṛṣṇa, because when He was writing a letter … Read More
DHĪRA-PRAŚĀNTA A person who is very peaceful, forbearing, considerate and obliging is called dhīra-praśānta. This dhīra-praśānta trait of Kṛṣṇa was exhibited in His dealings with the Pāṇḍavas. On account of the Pāṇḍavas’ faithful devotion to the … Read More
