Hare Krsna,
This is a profoundly beautiful meditation topic, where choosing a starting point feels almost impossible. Vṛndāvana is imbued with countless layers of sweetness and charm, evoking a spectrum of emotions whenever we read or hear about it—let alone contemplate the experience of actually living there.
One striking realization is how Kṛṣṇa lovingly reciprocates with every living entity, especially the residents of Vṛndāvana. These residents include not only the human devotees but also the trees, flowers, grass, bushes, earth, Yamunā, mountains, and animals such as peacocks, deer, and bees. Each is uniquely touched by His divine presence, adding to the wonder of this sacred abode.
We read in Brahma-Samhita (Text 29):
“I worship that transcendental seat, known as Svetadvipa where as loving consorts the Laksmis in
their unalloyed spiritual essence practice the amorous service of the Supreme Lord Krishna as their
only lover; where every tree is a transcendental purpose tree; where the soil is the purpose gem, all
water is nectar, every word is a song, every gait is a dance, the flute is the favorite attendant, effulgence is full of transcendental bliss and the supreme spiritual entities are all enjoyable and tasty, where numberless milk cows always emit transcendental oceans of milk; where there is eternal existence of transcendental time, who is ever present and without past or future and hence is not subject to the quality of passing away even for the space of half a moment. That realm is known as Goloka only to a very few self-realized souls in this world.”
I am awestruck by the extraordinary good fortune of the transcendental residents of Vṛndāvana. They are blessed to receive the touch and glance of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma. The grass and shrubs are fortunate to feel the touch of Their divine feet. The earth itself is graced with the sacred impressions left by Their extraordinary footsteps and those of the cows, which adorn her like precious ornaments.
The trees and creepers are blessed as Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma lovingly touch them while picking fruits, flowers, and leaves for Their playful ornaments. The Yamunā River and mountains like Govardhana are sanctified by the contact of Their lotus feet. Even birds such as peacocks and animals like deer, standing at a distance, are enveloped in Their mercy through the tender glance of Their compassionate eyes.
There are moments when I wonder if I am too insignificant to attract Kṛṣṇa’s merciful glance. Do my humble services even merit mention before the magnificent offerings rendered by His countless pure devotees? Yet, this lesson—and the pastimes it reveals—gives me a glimmer of hope. No service is ever insignificant in the eyes of the Lord.
Kṛṣṇa’s attention is drawn to every living entity, no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential. He is captivated by bhakti, the sincere devotion we offer, and He reciprocates accordingly. In Vṛndāvana, we see that every tree, fruit, bee, and animal glorifies the Lord in its unique way. There exists a transcendental competition, a divine exchange of love, where the Lord glorifies His devotees just as they glorify Him. This mutual celebration of devotion is a testament to His boundless compassion and love.
“My dear brother, You are superior to all of us, and Your lotus feet are worshiped by the demigods. Just see how these trees, full with fruits, have bent down to worship Your lotus feet… I think the drones that are buzzing all around You must have been Your devotees in their past lives. They cannot leave Your company because no one can be a better, more affectionate master than You… Just see how the peacocks in great ecstasy are dancing before You. The deer, whose behavior is just like the gopīs, are welcoming You with the same affection. And the cuckoos who are residing in this forest are receiving You with great joy because they consider that Your appearance is so auspicious in their home. Even though they are trees and animals, these residents of Vṛndāvana are glorifying You. They are prepared to welcome You to their best capacity, as is the practice of great souls in receiving another great soul at home. As for the land, it is so pious and fortunate that the footprints of Your lotus feet are marking its body.” (Krsna book 1-19)
Another realization is how deeply attractive and pleasing the Lord finds the sincere chanting of His Holy Name. If Kṛṣṇa is easily pleased by the residents of Vṛndāvana, why wouldn’t He be equally pleased by the suffering residents of the material world who chant and glorify His name, form, qualities, pastimes, and abode? After all, the Holy Name is non-different from the Lord Himself.
A final reflection is on the perfect harmony and purity of the original, transcendental Vṛndāvana. In contrast, modern world reflects the degradation of human society, where sinfulness has led to polluted waters and dangerously contaminated air. Similarly, while modern agribusiness offers an abundance of food in supermarkets, it has also caused the death of family farms, polluted groundwater, eroded precious topsoil, and created countless other environmental issues.
We should earnestly aspire to return to our eternal home and reside in the beautiful forests of Vṛndāvana, living in harmony with its pure, transcendental inhabitants and engaging in loving service to the Lord.
Thus expressing His satisfaction with the beautiful forest of Vṛndāvana and its inhabitants, Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoyed tending the cows and other animals with His friends on the banks of the river Yamunā below Govardhana Hill. (SB 10.15.9)
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Krsna Katha 