Kṛṣṇa’s Abode

In this way we know that God has His own abode, which is made of touchstone, and we learn of the houses there and the wish-fulfilling trees (kalpa-vrksa). Not only is there one, but there are millions of such wish-fulfilling trees. Surabhir abhipalayantam: Krsna is engaged in tending surabhi cows. One can take as much milk as many times as he likes from a surabhi cow. Laksmi-sahasra-sata-sambhrama-sevyamanam. Laksmi is the goddess of fortune. We all want the favor of the goddess of fortune, but in the spiritual sky the Lord is served by millions of goddesses of fortune. Nor is it that God is asking their favor. We may ask a favor of the goddess of fortune, "Dear Mother, goddess of fortune, please give me some money." Even though Krsna does not care, the goddesses are rendering service to Him with great veneration (sambhrama).

In this way the Vedas give information: "Here is God." Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami. "I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord." This is real religion. Real religion means knowing God, knowing where God is and what He is doing. Thus we must receive all information from Vedic literature.

"I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, who is adept at playing on His flute, who has blossoming eyes like lotus petals, whose head is decked with peacock feathers, whose body is the figure of beauty tinged with the hue of blue clouds, and whose unique loveliness charms millions of Cupids." (Bs. 5.30)

In this way we learn that God is engaged in playing His flute, and that His eyes look just like the petals of a lotus flower, and that He is so beautiful that He can defeat millions upon millions of Cupids. Thus He is called Madana-mohana. He is so attractive that even Madana (Cupid) is attracted to Him. Cupid attracts everyone, but He attracts Cupid. That is the meaning of Madana-mohana. And Radharani is Madana-mohana-mohini, for She attracts Madana-mohana. Here, then, is God-what do people know of Him?