Mahaprabhu's Mood of Separation and Reason for Taking Sannyas

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.35.12-15 - Mahaprabhu's Mood of Separation and Reason for Taking Sannyas (download mp3)
by Jagannath Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty

SB 10.35.12-13
saha-balah srag-avatamsa-vilasah
 sanusu ksiti-bhrto vraja-devyah
harsayan yarhi venu-ravena
 jata-harsa uparambhati visvam
 manda-mandam anugarjati meghah
suhrdam abhyavarsat sumanobhis
 chayaya ca vidadhat pratapatram

O goddesses of Vraja, when Krsna is enjoying Himself with Balarama on the mountain slopes, playfully wearing a flower garland on the top of His head, He engladdens all with the resonant vibrations of His flute. Thus He delights the entire world. At that time the nearby cloud, afraid of offending a great personality, thunders very gently in accompaniment. The cloud showers flowers onto his dear friend Krsna and shades Him from the sun like an umbrella.

SB 10.35.14-15
vividha-gopa-caranesu vidagdho
 venu-vadya urudha nija-siksah
tava sutah sati yadadhara-bimbe
 datta-venur anayat svara-jatih
savanasas tad upadharya suresah
kavaya anata-kandhara-cittah
 kasmalam yayur aniscita-tattvah

O pious mother Yasoda, your son, who is expert in all the arts of herding cows, has invented many new styles of flute-playing. When He takes His flute to His bimba-red lips and sends forth the tones of the harmonic scale in variegated melodies, Brahma, Siva, Indra and other chief demigods become confused upon hearing the sound. Although they are the most learned authorities, they cannot ascertain the essence of that music, and thus they bow down their heads and hearts.

The words tava sutah sati, “your son, O chaste lady,” clearly indicate that at this point mother Yasoda is among the young gopis as they earnestly describe Lord Krsna’s glories. According to Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti, among the demigods led by Sakra (Lord Indra) were Upendra, Agni and Yamaraja, among those led by Sarva (Lord Siva) were Katyayani, Skanda and Ganesa, and among those led by Paramesthi (Lord Brahma) were the four Kumaras and Narada. Thus the best collective intelligence in the universe could not definitively analyze the enchanting musical arrangements of the Supreme Lord.