PART 1
PART 2
- This Harikatha refers to Chapter 35 of the Srimad Bhagavatam, which speaks about the Yugala Gita, and every two verses reveal a specific bhava.
- The gopis in this Yugala Gita are in their homes. Even while at home, they are conversing with their friends and discussing the beauty and qualities of Krsna.
- Krsna plays His flute with His friends and herds the cows. The moment He enters Vrndavana, all the trees and vines of Vrndavana welcome Him, offering their softest petals, making a carpet of colorful flowers for Krsna.
- Srila Gurudeva instructs us to follow the example of the trees of Vrndavana. When a trustworthy guru goes to the house of a trustworthy disciple, the disciple welcomes his guru with flower petals.
- Srimati Radhika’s feeling for Krsna is anuraga (deep attachment), the symptom is, one becomes bound to the other by the feeling that one has for the other.
- Srila Gurudeva instructs us that without offering body, mind, and life to our guru, we cannot enter into suddha-bhakti.
- There are three types of bhakti: aropa-siddha-bhakti, sanga-siddha-bhakti, and svarupa-siddha-bhakti.
- In the beginning, the devotee practices aropa-siddha-bhakti, a sadhana performed by imposition, it is not yet natural. But the gopis do not practice aropa, they are eternal servants of Krsna, they practice svarupa-siddha-bhakti, they are manifestations of the body of Srimati Radhika.
- There are two types of sneha (affection). The gopis have madhu-sneha, love and affection like honey, naturally sweet. The queens of Dvaraka Puri have grhta-sneha, affection like ghee. Which is better? To think like the gopis? Krsna is mine! Or to think like the queens of Dvaraka? I belong to Krsna!
- The stages of bhakti are sraddha, sadhu-sanga, bhajana-kriya, anartha-nivrtti, nistha, ruci, asakti, bhava and finally prema.
- The story of Ashtavakra Rsi who was born with eight curves in his body, that is, with deformities in eight parts.