in Greek mythology, a pastoral paradise inhabited by shepherds and shepherdesses, nymphs and satyrs (mythical)

Alternative descriptions

• carefree, serene life

• a mountainous region in the center of the Peloponnese in Greece, whose population in ancient times was mainly engaged in cattle breeding

• ancient area in Greece

• historical area in the central part of the Peloponnese in Greece

• the name of the area where Hermes was born

• region in the central part of the Peloponnese (Greece), in a figurative sense - a happy country

• pastoral paradise country

• seaside climatic-balneological and mud resort of Odessa

• a happy country, whose inhabitants - carefree shepherds and shepherdesses - were distinguished by patriarchal simplicity of manners (in ancient literature and pastorals of the 16th-18th centuries)

• literary image of an idealized country

• a novel by the English writer Philip Sidney

• the most central country of the Peloponnese with the capital Tripoli

• resort in Odessa

• historical area in Greece ("paradise country")

• in ancient literature, the country of paradise innocence, patriarchal simplicity of morals and peaceful joy

• ideal happy country in ancient times

• Happy country in ancient literature

• Region in the central part of the Peloponnese (Greece)

• Name of the area where Hermes was born

Solomon Shepherd / Hypotaenidia woodfordi

The wise Sukadeva very much wanted King Pariksit to see the Divine Pastimes of the Lord in their true light. “Maharaja! Pariksit!” He said, “who can describe the unearthly charm of Krishna, whose tender Image was the very embodiment of sweetness? How can I describe it in words? You want me to tell you stories from the life of Krishna, but they belong to the realm beyond God incarnated often and in every such Advent showed many unearthly miracles, but in the Incarnation of Krishna He showed an unparalleled attraction. and even those who mastered the senses and overcame their inner reactions experienced a kind of emotional outburst that was born in them - a surge of feelings of tender worship! When Krishna lightly touched someone with His tender hand, he lost all bodily consciousness, plunging into bliss, and lived with since then in harmony and attunement with Him.Krishna now and then arranged various amusements, told funny stories. more astonishing than them in the whole world!

The shepherds and cowherd boys of Vraja * could go about their business, but as soon as they saw Krishna, they, enchanted by His charm, froze in place, like statues carved out of stone. The women of Vraja surrendered their minds to Krishna, their very breath, recognizing Him as the embodiment of Love and Compassion. No scientist, no matter how high his achievements may be, will be able to find a language that can describe their nature and experience. Indeed, the language involuntarily grows dumb, it can only be wrong.

(* Vraj is another name for Vrindavan.)

The reverent devotion and sacrifice of these high-minded shepherds and shepherdesses knew no bounds. None other than Uddhava himself, seeing them, exclaimed: “Alas! I wasted all these years of my life, didn’t I? So long staying in the living and comfortable presence of Krishna-chandra, and in fact, so close to Him, I am not I gained access to His Love and Glory. ”My heart was not illuminated even with a share of that devotion and love for the Lord, which these shepherdesses differ.Indeed, if one is to take birth, one must be born as some kind of shepherd or shepherdess! Why be born as someone else and live a life devoid of any meaning? If I was not lucky enough to be born a shepherd or a cowherd boy, let me become a flower pavilion in Vrindavan or a jasmine sprout, and if I don’t deserve that either, let me at least grow up as a blade of grass in a meadow visited by these shepherds with Krishna Himself, ”Uddhava lamented. he languished in pious torment, and his heart was filled with this torment, but, in essence, these torments saved him.

To claim that this relationship between Krishna and the gopis was low and lustful is to discover that you are too easy to come to false conclusions. Such statements are not worth paying attention to.

Maharaja! Only the pure in heart and no one else can understand the pastimes of Krsna. "

Parikshit was delighted to hear this. With a smile on his lips, he asked the sage: "Master! When did Uddhava go to Vrindavan? Why did he go there? What reason prompted him to leave the Presence of Krishna and leave? Please describe this incident to me."

And Suka proceeded to describe, as he wished: "O King! Uddhava could not be away from Krishna for a moment. He would never agree to lose His Presence. But Krishna Himself sent him to convey the message of the gopis, so he had no choice. He had to go, separation became inevitable, and Krishna gave him only one day to carry out this mission, He ordered that he not stay there longer than a day. And despite this, when Uddhava went to Vrindavan, one day of separation seemed him for a century.

But upon arriving there, Uddhava regretted that the clock was running so fast and that he would have to leave this place so soon. “Oh, what a pity that I have to leave these people so soon! How happy I would be to spend my whole life in their company! Unfortunately, I did not deserve it,” such were the sad thoughts that disturbed Uddhava.

Have you noted, Maharaja, that there is really no difference between the Lord and His devotees? Uddhava was more tormented when he had to leave the gopis than when he had to leave Krishna Himself! His Bliss was the same there and there. Indeed, there is no difference between Gopi and Gopal, Bhakta and Bhagavan. The hearts of the gopis turned to the Altar where He was placed. Their inner thirst was quenched by drinking the nectar of Krishnarasa. Uddhava was able to understand their torment from separation from Krishna, the sincerity of their tender affection for Him, their thirst to hear about Him, their longing for Him and their sincere readiness to listen to His Message and follow it. These shepherds and cowherd boys never for a moment allowed their attention to deviate from the stories about Krishna, from the description of His pastimes and the story of His accomplishments and deeds. The radiance of Krishna's delight exerted such a powerful influence on the whole of Vraja that all living things seemed to freeze, and non-living things came to life! Uddhava saw with his own eyes how the stones of Govardhana Mountain melted in tears of joy. He also saw the gopi shepherdesses freezing like stone statues, when their hearts were overwhelmed with Divine joy. And he considered what he saw marvelous and instructive. "

Describing these signs of devotion to the gopis, the sage Suka was so overwhelmed with joy that tears flowed from his eyes. He lost consciousness of everything external and went into Samadhi so often that the holy men and sages, who listened to him and looked at him, were filled with delight and an irresistible desire to see Krishnacandra, who so deeply worried Shuka.

Meanwhile, Suka opened his eyes and said: "Maharaja! What a fortunate Uddhava was! Showing him the places where they played with Krishna, the gopis brought him to Govardhana Mountain. When he saw this place, his surprise increased even more. he saw on the stones and solid soil the imprints of the footprints of Krishna, shepherds and shepherdesses, just as clear as when they had walked here long ago.When they approached the mountain, the gopis felt the suffering of separation from Krishna so sharply that moaning.They were conscious only of Him, plunged into thoughts only about Him. When all of them in one voice exclaimed: "Krishna!" - the trees standing around trembled with trembling excitement. They swayed their branches and began to moan plaintively. Krishna acted not only on the shepherds of Vrindavan, but also on the hills and trees. Everything yearned for Him, Maharaja! What else can I say? Uddhava saw that which is beyond all faith. He was amazed, confused and humbled. "

At these words of Sukadeva, the king was eager to know what happened next. “Teacher!” He said, “how did this happen? Please enlighten me on this issue, if you don’t mind.” When he asked about this, Suka replied: "Raja! The consciousness of the gopis became one with the consciousness of Krishna, so they did not notice anything or anyone around. In every stone, every tree, they saw Krishna, they fell to them, crying out," Krishna! Krishna! "This made those stones and trees feel the pain of separation from Krishna, and they also melted in the flame of this sorrow so that drops of tears fell from the tips of the leaves, and the stones softened from the moisture exuding. See what incredible, amazing phenomena these are! And the axiom that everything is living (Sarvam Sajivam) thus turned out to be true.The stones and trees of Vrindavan demonstrated to Uddhava that there is nothing that would be devoid of consciousness and life.

Those who are unable to understand all the splendor of the gopis, their endless devotion, which melted stones and caused the bitter groaning of trees, have no right to judge this. If they try to do this, they only discover that their mind is more inert than the mind of stones and boulders. An inert mind can never realize the wondrous greatness of Krishnacandra, the Ruler of the Universe, captivating the world with His Beauty and Glory. Only the clearest and purest mind can comprehend this.

Uddhava also noted another point that evening in Vrindavan. When the brahmanas and other twice-born ones were engaged in the rituals of worshiping Fire at sunset, the gopis kindled hearths in their homes, bringing embers or living fires in shells or clay dishes from neighboring houses. However, Uddhava noticed that the first house in which the lamp and hearth were lit was the house of Nanda, where Krishna grew up and played. And as soon as a light came on in Nanda's house, he saw how the gopis, one after another, reached there with lamps in their hands to light them there. They carried the lamps lit in such a favorable place to their homes. Uddhava sat on the steps of the village meeting house, watching the lights of these lamps move by.

One of the gopis stayed too long in Krsna's house, lighting a fire. Those who came for her began to show impatience - they did not have the opportunity to light their lamps. Then Yashoda came out of her chambers, looked at her, and cried out: “What a problem!”, She tried to somehow stir her up, patting her on the back. But she did not open her eyes. The surrounding gently tore her away from the lamp and laid her down, giving her the opportunity to come to her senses. Her fingers were badly burned. With great difficulty, she was brought to consciousness. Upon questioning, it was found that in the flame of the lamp she saw Krishna and in this joyful experience did not notice how her fingers were in the fire and burned. She felt no pain at all.

This incident astounded Uddhava, being another wonderful example of the gopis' devotion to the Lord. "