"By devoting your whole mind to me, free from all other thoughts, and by constantly meditating on me you shall forthwith attain me. Even those girls that remained at Vraja and could not join the Râsa attained me by meditating on My powers." The words of Uddhava only reminded the Gopis of the doings of Krishna. They loudly took his name. They were full of Krishna and would not forget him. But they knew from His message that He was Âtmâ and their pain of separation was gone. Uddhava remained for several days at Vraja, reminding all of Sri Krishna. When he left Vraja he wished that he could be one of the creepers or herbs in Vrindâvana, that had been rendered sacred by the dust of the Gopis’ feet. (With that wish let us take leave of the Vrindâvana Lilâ of Bhagavân Sri Krishna.) THOUGHTS ON THE VRINDÂVANA LILÂ. Before making any remarks of my own, it will be necessary to draw upon the Upanishads. Gopâla Tâpani is one of the chief Upanishads dealing with Krishna. The work is divided into two parts. The first part gives one yantra for the Upâsanâ of Krishna. The second part gives a narration. The women of Vraja asked Krishna to name some Brâhmana to whom they could make offerings of food. Krishna named Durvasas. "But how can we approach him without crossing the Yamunâ?" asked the Gopis. "Take my name, that of Krishna, a Brahmâcharin, and the Yamunâ shall give you way" So it was. The Gopis crossed the Yamunâ and went to the Âsrama of Durvasas, the incarnation of Rudra. They offered the sweet things to the Rishi and when he partook of these, he permitted the Gopis to retire. "But how can we cross the Yamunâ?" The Rishi replied: — "Remember me, the eater of Durvâ (a kind of grass) and the river shall give way." "Krishna a Brahmâcharin! And thou an eater of Durvâ only? How can that be?" asked the chief Gopi and she asked a number of other questions. (According to the common exoteric notion Sri Krishna is the lord of many women and Durvasas is a voracious Rishi. This is the cause of the wonder.) Durvasas first explained that Krishna was the all-pervading Purusha, underlying all. Then further on, there are seven _Sâkâmya_ Puris or places, on the top of Meru, as well as seven _nishkâmya_ Puris. (The commentator Visvesvara explains "Sâkâmya," as regions where desires fructify. As on the Meru there are seven such Puris, so there are seven Nishkâmya or Moksha-producing Puri’s). On the earth, these, are seven Sâkâmya Puris (Ayodhyâ, Mathurâ and others.) Of these Gopâla Puri (Mathurâ) is the direct abode of Brahmâ. As the lotus floats on the lake, Mathurâ rears itself up on the earth, protected by Chakra, the disc of Vishnu. Hence it is called Gopâla Puri. This Puri is surrounded by twelve forests: — Brihat Vana (from Brihat or great, large). Madhu Vana (From Madhu, a daitya). Tâla Vana (Tâla or palm tree). Bahula Vana (From Bahula, a kind of tree). Kumud Vana (From Kumud, flower). Khadira Vana (From Khadira or the catechu plant).