A rare poem by Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur.
Vṛndāvan
by Śrīla Bhakti Vinod Ṭhākur
Written on 18 July 1871 in Śrī Purī Dhām and published in Śrī Gauḍīya Darśan on 12 August 1957.
My wealth, Kṛṣṇa, performs His eternal Pastimes in the eternal abode of Vṛndāvan, where there are joyful, spiritual forest cottages and joyful, spiritual creepers replete with sprigs of divine love.
In Vṛndāvan, thoughts of pure service beside the Yamunā are always present in the devotees’ hearts. There, the highest mood manifests at Govardhan, and souls graze as cows.
There, everyone’s disposition is always towards friendship and brotherhood. There, joy is all there is. There, neither lust nor envy nor anything of the sort exist. There, the ecstasy of divine love is the only enjoyment.
The land of Vraja is the abode of the rasas of servitude, friendship, affection, and amorous love. It is the home of divine love. There, souls do not undergo birth, death, healing, or sickness. The nectar of divine love is their sustenance.
That land is supernatural, imperceptible, and dear to Kṛṣṇa. It is always beyond time and space. No one with a material body and materially attached consciousness can go there.
Souls who have discovered the shelter of Guru and Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction are fortunate. They transcend the mental and physical bodies, and reach that abode of joy.
They attain a divine body, enter Vraja, take shelter at the sakhīs’ feet, and relish the joy of serving Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa. They leave behind all sadness and experience even mahābhāva [the ultimate ecstasy].
So friends! Let us go to Vṛndāvan! That land is not very far away. Subdue the senses, enter within, and lastly reach samādhi.
Material time and space will remain for some time, but the soul’s intimate connection with that land will develop. O noble souls! Know Vṛndāvan to be where you will behold Rādhā and Govinda.
There, you will enter the Yamunā’s waters and exuberantly play with the sakhīs in service to Rādhikā. She, Kṛṣṇa’s dearmost, the Mistress of the soul, the Goddess of all, will speak words of divine love to you.
You will hear the sound of Govinda’s flute, which pierces the soul’s heart and maddens the world. That sound will forcibly bring you to the base of a blooming kadamba tree and submerge you in the nectar of divine love.
You will enter the Yamunā’s waters, and the fire of divine love will burn even more. Your heart will palpitate. Coming back onto the bank, you will see Kṛṣṇa’s form and suddenly faint.
This abode of Vṛndāvan is the delight of all souls. There is no fool like one who leaves Vṛndāvan and goes elsewhere. O brother! Consider whether you find divine love anywhere else.
Living with women, jokes, stories, pots of wine, collections of ornaments, and so on, are all sources of misery. Considering them happiness is your mistake. Now understand this clearly.
Fever will enter your body and cause you to tremble. Your throat will become filled with mucus. Your ears will not be able to hear, your nose will not be able to smell, and your eyes will stop functioning.
Those whom you consider your dear friends will become strangers, and your descendants will neglect you. Alas! They will stop you at the door like a gatekeeper, and their children will make fun of you.
All of your former lovers will now despise you, and alcohol will no longer give you any pleasure. The bone you chew and enjoy will now cause you unlimited pain, as you will become toothless.
You will no longer become more attractive by wearing ornaments. Your body will now look like a monkey. Where is your grand mirror? Where is your outfit? Consider this and become detached.
So brother! Let us go to Vṛndāvan now! You will find eternal happiness there. The eternal happiness of divine love for Kṛṣṇa never causes sadness. By it, you will become infallible.
You will attain a divine body and a home in Vṛndāvan. Your material body will remain in the material world. When you die, your body will remain here, but you will never leave Vraja.
Kedārnāth Datta describes Vṛndāvan’s glory. My Guru is Śrī Chaitanya Gosāi. When you attain the association of His servants, your heart will never drift towards matter. O brother! Take shelter of Śrī Chaitanya!