In the Garga Samhita, Sri Narada Muni explains to Sri Bahulashva, the story of the other gopis, a sacred story that removes all sins, and increases one’s love for Lord Krishna.
The six Vrishabhanus:
- Nitivit,
- Margada,
- Shukla,
- Patanga,
- Divyavahana, and
- Gopeshta, were born in Vraja.
were born the girls of
- Rama-Vaikuntha,
- Urdhva-Vaikuntha,
- Lokacala, and
- Ajitapada,
Always thinking of Lord Krishna’s lotus feet, to gain His favor, they followed the vow of Magha-Vrata.
On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magha (January-February), as springtime was about to begin, to test their love for Him, Lord Krishna went to these gopis’ homes dressed in a tiger skin, His hair matted, and His natural opulences concealed, by playing the flute he enchanted all the worlds.
Seeing Him on the path, the enchanted gopis were overcome with love.
To gaze at Him, they came close. As they gazed at this very handsome yogi,
the blissful gopis spoke among themselves. The gopis said: “Who is this? Is this Nanda’s son or the son of a wealthy king?
Is He renounced
- because His heart was broken by a woman’s harsh words or
- because He has performed many pious deeds?
Ah! How can He live without mother, father, sister, and wife?”
Filled with wonder and love, the assembled girls of Vraja asked many questions.
The gopis said:
- “O yogi, who are You?
- What is Your name?
- O sage, where do You live?
- What do You do?
- What mystic powers have You attained?
The perfect yogi said: “I am a Master of Yoga. I always stay at Mana-Sarovara.
- My name is Svayamprakasha.
- I never eat.
- My own mystic power keeps Me alive.
- O girls of Vraja, I have attained the great treasure of the Paramahamsas.
- I have spiritual eyes.
- I can see the past, present, and future.
- I know mantras that can ruin people, kill them, bewilder them, paralyze them, or bring them under My control.”
The gopis said: “O wise yogi, if You know the past, present, and future, then please tell us one thing: What are we thinking at this moment?”
The perfect yogi said: “The answer to this question I will now whisper in each girl’s ear, or, if you request, I will speak it aloud, so all may hear.”
The gopis said: “O sage, if it is true that You are a Master of Yoga, and if without doubt that You know the past, present, and future, and if by merely chanting a mantra You can actually bring others under Your control, then we think You must be the best of all mantra-chanters.”
The perfect yogi said: “Any impossible thing you ask, I can do. The words of saintly persons do not prove false. O girls don’t lament. Close your eyes and you will attain your wish.”
As the gopis stood with closed eyes, the Lord abandoned the form of a yogi and again became Krishna, the son of Nanda.
Opening their eyes, they happily gazed at Krishna, the son of Nanda. Delighted, filled with wonder, and now aware of His transcendental powers, the gopis fainted unconscious.
As Indra enjoys with the girls of Svarga Loka, so Lord Krishna enjoyed with these gopis in a great rasa-dance in sacred Vrindavana forest during the month of Magha.
