Accompanying Kṛṣṇa - The Divine Entourage in His Pastimes
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, is the reservoir of all relationships and is fundamentally distinct from the concept of a solitary, impersonal Absolute. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that to understand Kṛṣṇa, one must understand Him within the context of His divine entourage. Whether acting as a simple cowherd boy or a magnificent king, the Lord is always enhanced by the company of those who love Him.
Transcendental Friendship with the Cowherd Boys
Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly describes the Lord's pastimes in Vṛndāvana, where the overall atmosphere is one of mādhurya, or sweetness. In this setting, Kṛṣṇa is accompanied by His confidential friends, the cowherd boys (sakhās). He explains that these associates enter the forest with Kṛṣṇa, tending cows and vibrating the flute, creating an atmosphere of pure transcendental friendship.
- Accompanied by the cowherd boys and Balarama, Krsna brought forward the cows and played on His flute as He entered the forest of Vrndavana, which was full of flowers, vegetables and pasturing grass.
- Lord Krsna and His friends went to the forest to play with the cows, and it is said that the boys who accompanied Krsna enjoyed transcendental friendship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- All of these sakha friends of Krsna sought only to serve Him. Sometimes some of them would rise early in the morning and immediately go to Krsna's place and wait at the door to see Krsna and to accompany Him to the pasturing grounds.
Intimacy of the Gopīs
Beyond friendship, Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights the Lord's association with the cowherd girls, or gopīs. He notes that Kṛṣṇa's sweetness increases unlimitedly when He is in their company. In the dead of night, Kṛṣṇa enjoyed the rāsa-līlā, proving that the perfection of love of God is found in these confidential exchanges.
- Although Krsna's unparalleled beauty is the topmost sweetness of love of Godhead, His sweetness increases unlimitedly when He is in the company of the gopis. Consequently Krsna's exchange of love with the gopis is the topmost perfection of love of God.
- In this way Krsna, as dhira-lalita, was enjoying His youthful proclivities in the company of the gopis.
- While strolling on the bank of the Yamuna, Krsna recited various kinds of poetry. He thus enjoyed the company of the gopis in the soothing moonlight of autumn.
The Opulence of Dvārakā and Kurukṣetra
In contrast to the simplicity of Vṛndāvana, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that the Lord's pastimes in Dvārakā and Kurukṣetra display His aiśvarya, or opulence. Here, Kṛṣṇa is accompanied by military commanders, chariots, elephants, and queens. He notes that even when traveling, the Lord moves with a royal procession, surrounded by the Yadu dynasty and great warriors like Arjuna and Sātyaki.
- Krsna's chariot started for Hastinapura accompanied by many other chariots, along with elephants, cavalry, infantry & similar royal paraphernalia. Bugles, drums, trumpets, conchshells and horns all produced auspicious sound which vibrated in all directions.
- Hearing this complaint by Indra, the King of heaven, Krsna, accompanied by His wife Satyabhama, immediately started for the abode of Bhaumasura. The two of them rode on the back of Garuda, who flew them to Pragjyotisa-pura, Bhaumasura's capital city.
- Here at Kuruksetra You are dressed like a royal prince, accompanied by great warriors, but in Vrndavana You appeared just like an ordinary cowherd boy, accompanied only by Your beautiful flute.
Expansions and Internal Potencies
Beyond the external vision of associates, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that Kṛṣṇa is ontologically accompanied by His expansions and energies. He explains that Balarāma, the first expansion, is always with Kṛṣṇa to serve Him in every way. Furthermore, the Lord is accompanied by the hlādinī-śakti, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, who is the source of His pleasure.
- He (Krsna) is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead - krsnas tu bhagavan svayam (SB 1.3.28) - and Narayana, the purusas and all other incarnations accompany Him to function as different parts of His pastimes.
- Krsna plays on His flute and is accompanied by His pleasure potency, hladini sakti, Srimati Radharani. Of Krsna's many potencies, the hladini sakti is His pleasure-giving potency. That is ananda.
- The Lord is situated as Himself, Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He is accompanied by His expansions like Lord Rama, Baladeva, Sankarsana, Narayana, Maha-Visnu and so forth.
Conclusion
The divine entourage of Śrī Kṛṣṇa is not merely a decorative feature but the very essence of His existence as the Supreme Enjoyer. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that whether accompanied by the simple cowherd boys in the forest or by the great armies of the world, Kṛṣṇa is always the central object of affection. Through his teachings, we learn that the perfection of life is to seek the company of the Lord, who is never alone but eternally surrounded by love.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Accompanying Kṛṣṇa. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.