4 - Detailed description of Goloka 

Narada said- О best of these well versed in the Vedas, at whose request lord Krishna who happens to be the lord of the universe appeared on earth in human form and what was the reason for it. 

Narayana said - In earlier times during the Varaha-kalpa, the earth was disturbed with the lord of the wicked people and was grief-stricken. She then went to Brahma to take refuge with her. 

Having been terrified immensely by the demons, the goddess earth accompanied with the gods, reached the inaccessible court of Brahma. 

And found Brahma the lord of the gods there illumining; with divine lustre and surrounded by a Rusis, sages and siddhas delightfully. 

Wearing a smile on his face, he was witnessing the dance of the apsaras, accompanied with the music by Gandharvas. He was reciting the two latter name of Krishna, his eyes were filled with tears because of his devotion and the entire body had become sensational. 

О sage, the goddess Pruthvi together with the gods bowed to the four faced Brahma and told him the story of his suffering at the hands of the demons. Thereafter, getting emotional her eyes was filled with tears and while crying she started offering prayer to Brahma. Looking at her Brahma the creator of the universe said, "O noble lady, why ace you crying and offering prayer at the same time"? How have you arrived here?   

Tell me at once. Surely you will meet with welfare, О prosperous one, why are you feeling panicky? You be composer. 

Thus assuring the goddess of earth variously Brahma asked the gods respectfully, "O gods, why have you arrived here"? You tell me the reason for it. On listening to the words of Brahma the gods spoke to Prajapati thus, О lord, the earth is suffering because of the weight of the demons and the people also suffering at the hands of the demons. You happen to be the creator of the universe and therefore, you urgently search for a remedy for her. О Brahman, О grandsire, you are the only source for us; therefore, you think of the ways and means to free ourselves from the torture of the demons since the goddess earth is suffering with the weight of the demons. He is also suffering at the hands of the demons therefore, you kindly remove her burden. 

Listening to the words of the gods, Brahma told them О goddess earth, you get relieved of the terror and be happy. I do something to relieve you of your misery. О lotus eyed one, I shall surely remove your burden and you will meet with prosperity. О noble lady, I shall surely move in the direction which brings welfare to you. On hearing the words of Brahma, the goddess earth narrated to him details of her sufferings with a smiling face. 

Prithvi said- О lord, no one can speak out his heart a trusted person. Therefore, I am rising to narrate detail of my Sufferings to you kindly listen to me, a female is considered to be helpless; therefore, she is protected by the father, the husband and the son in all times. Her protection by anyone else has been denounced. 

You are the father of the universe and are asking me. Therefore, the people with the weight of whom I am suffering, I am going to tell you about them. Because I will not feel shy in narrating my tale to you. 

Those who are deprived of the devotion of lord Krishna and those who denounce his devotees, I am unable to bear the load of such people. 

Those who do not follow their dharma, perform no good deeds, having no faith in the Vedas. I am troubled with the weight of such people. Such of the people feed do not feed or maintain their parents, teacher, wife, son and other dependants, I am unable to bear the load of such people.

О lord, such of the persons who speak falsehood, who are deprived of mercy and truth, denouncing the Vedas and the gods cannot be carried by me and I am suffering because of them. Those who betrays the friend are ungrateful give false evidence betray the faith of others, misappropriate the trust their load is unbearable by me. 

Those who sell away Kalyana-sukta of the Samaveda and also the name of the lord which provides welfare, they troubled me the most and I am unable to bear their load. 

Those who kill the creatures, betray the teacher, performed yajnas from village to village, the terrorists, those burning the dead bodies of the Sudras and consuming their food, I am unable but bear their load. 

Those who destroy the puja, yajna fasting and several other vratas feel suffering because all them. 

Such of the people who are envious of cows, Brahmana, gods, Vaishnavas and the devotees of the lord reciting its glory, I am unable to bear that load. О creator of the universe, I am unable to bear the atrocities of Samkhachuda and I suffer much more at the hands of other demons. I am unable to bear their weight. 

О lord, I have thus narrated to the details of my sufferings and in case I am your true devotee then you kindly think of some remedy for the same. 

Thus speaking the goddess earth started crying before Brahma again and again. Listening to her cries Brahma said, О goddess earthy I shall try my best to remove your sufferings and simultaneously remove the demons from the earth. Because one meets with success only by making efforts. 

The great lord will surely remove your suffering at an appropriate time. О beautiful one the person who will place mantra the pitcher of welfare, Shivalinga, vermilion, Jethlmadhu, sandal, kasturi, earth from the sacred places, soul, horn of Rhinoceros, crystal gems, rubies,  sapphire, Suryamani, Rudraksha, Kusha-grass, Salagrdma, Samkha, Tulasi, image of the gods, water-conch burning lamp, adorable stone, bell, Shiva, naivedya, the gem, the yajhopavita, mirror, fly-whisks, gorocana, jewels, ruby, Puranas, fire camphor, battle-axe, silver, gold, coral, gems, water of the sacred places, cows milk, curd, ghee, cowdung and sows urine, on the ground shall have to spend ten thousand years in the kalasutra hell and keep on suffering there. 

Thus Brahma the creator of the universe assuring the goddess earth variously went to lord Shiva accompanied by other gods. They reached Kailasa. 

Reaching there, Brahma spotted Shiva who was seated under the everlasting banyan tree grown on the bank of the Ganga of the heaven. He was rearing tiger’s skin and the ornaments of the bones of Satl, the daughter of Daksha. He was holding a trident. He had five faces, three eyes surrounded by several of siddhas and yogis, wearing a serene smile on the face and was witnessing the dance of apsaras accompanied with the music of Gandharvas. The goddess Parvati was lovingly at him and he also was looking at her with the side glance. With his five faces he was reciting the name of the lord which provides welfare. He was feeling joyful, wearing the garlands of lotus flowers from the Ganga. 

At that very moment Brahma appeared before Shiva together with all the, gods and bowed in reverence to him. 

At the sight of Brahma, Shiva the teacher of the universe, with his mind filled with devotion at once got up to receive him and offered his salutation to him. Thereafter, he received his blessings as well. All the gods then started offering their salutation to Shiva, who blessed them variously. 

Thereafter Brahma, the creator of the universe narrated the story of the earth to Shiva the lord of Parvati, hearing which Shiva bowed his head downwards beings the one who loved his devotees. 

Both Shiva and Parvati on hearing the sufferings of his devotees felt painful at heart. At this, Brahma tried to salute him. 

Thereafter Brahma and Shiva asked the goddess earth and the other gods to go to their respective abodes reassuring them. 

Both Brahma and Shiva went to the abode of Brahma and consulted him variously thereafter all of them combined went to Vaikuntha which is the great abode of Vishnu and is beyond the birth and death and is situated beyond the globe, floating in the air. This eternal abode of Vishnu is situated beyond a crore of yojanas from the earth. It is built in gems, is beyond the comprehension of the poets where the rubies and sapphires are freely used on the path ways. The gods who could move with the speed of the mind reached there in am instant and had a look at Lakshmi Narayana in the inner apartment, who was seated at ease on the gem-studded lion -throne, adorned with the gem-studded ornaments, gem-studded armlets, wristlets and anklets. Besides the neck ornaments of gems, he was wearing yellow lower garments the long garland of forest flower was quite peaceful lord of Sarasvati, served by Lakshmi at his feet possessing the lustre of crores of gods of love, having a smiling face, four armed and surrounded by his attendants like Sunanda, Nanda, Kumuda and several others. All his limbs were plastered with the sandal-pastes. He had the beautiful crown studded with gems on his head. He is blissful and the one who always had been merciful on his devotees. Such a type of lord Vishnu was seen by Brahma and other gods who offered their salutation to him, with devotion. All of them meekly stood their offering prayers. At that point of time all the gods were feeling blissful and their body was filled with emotion. 

Brahma said- О lord of Kamala, О peaceful one, I bow in reverence to lord Achyuta who happens to be the lord of all you happen to be your own lustre and all the gods also have emerged from your rays О spotless one all the sages, the ascetics and the humans appear on earth together with all the moveable and immovable creatures emerging from your rays. 

Shiva said- О lord, you are indestructible imperishable, all-pervading, visible and invisible, blissful and possessed all the siddhis like anima and others. Because of this, you are known to be the bestower of all the success and the form of success therefore, which one of us could be competent enough to recite your glory. 

Dharma said- The men with letters have described the one, who has been highlighted in the Vedas. But the one who was of the elements which are beyond the description of the Vedas who can offers prayer to him? Whatever sins are possible for anyone, they are considered to be the virtues, which appear in the form of their prayer. They are spotless and are visible as well as invisible, how can such a lord destroy. О great sage, whosoever recites the six verses composed by the gods in favour of the lord, such a person is relieved of all the miseries and always meets with the success. On hearing the prayer of the gods, Vishnu himself spoke to them. All of you should go to Goloka and shall also follow you with Lakshmi. Nara-Narayana the, dweller of Sveta-dvipa and Sarasvati will also follow you. My vast illusion, Karttikeya, Ganesha and Savitri, the mother of the Vedas will also follow us. 

I reside in the Goloka having two armed in the form of Krishna with Radha and. other cowherdesses and at this place I reside with Kamala and other courtiers. 

Narayana the dweller of the Sveta-dvipa and Krishna are one and the same. I happen to be Brahma and all the gods happen to be my rays. 

The gods, demons and human beings also represent my rays. All of you should go to Goloka and you will surely meet with success. Thereafter all of us will also reach there for the fulfilment of the desires of all. Thus speaking in the court the lord kept quiet. 

Thereafter all the gods bowed in reverence to him and proceeded to Goloka which is astonishing in nature beyond the birth and death and happens to be the eternal abode. 

This abode of the lord is beyond fifty crore yojanas from Vaikuntha and is floating in the air and was created as per the desire of the all pervading lord. All the gods then started with the intention of reaching Goloka which is beyond descriptions the gods who could move with the speed of the mind reached in an instant on the bank of the river, the gods were surprised since it was spotless like the crystal gems. It had mines of rubies, sapphire, gems, besides the various types of gems including those having black, white, green and red colour. 

Because of the sprouting of the coral rods, the best of the mines of gems could be seen at several pieces. 

О sage, it was quite surprising for Brahma to look at such a scene. There were several other mines were the rubies and sapphires, emerald gems were found and at some places there were the mines of Syamantaka gems and the treasures of gold. 

At places there were the valuable gems of yellow colour and at certain places the gems were available in heaps. At some places the kaustubha gems were found in abundance and at some places there were mines of gems which were beyond description. At some places, there were orchard for strolling. 

The gods were surprised at the sight end getting flabbergasted, the gods reached the other bank of the rivers where they found a graceful and charming mountain with hundred peaks which had the forest of Parijata trees besides kalpavrukshas and the Kamadhenu cows. 

It was crores of yojanas in height and was ten times its width; its peak was spread over an area of fifty crores of yojanas that mountain was surrounding the entire Goloka like a boundary wall, at the peak of the mountain there was the Rasamandala which was spread over an area of ten yojanas and was circular in shape. It was abounded with orchards of thousands of fragrant flowers and with group of black-wasps. 

It was filled with the articles required for the lover-sports and also had many of the decorated pleasure houses, it had a thousand crores of steps studded with gems and filled with the pitcher made with best of gems and the pillars studded with rubies and sapphires. 

The gems of vermilion colour were studded for the purpose of decoration, it had the pleasant boundary walls studded with beautiful gems and the doors were also studded with various types of gems. 

It was filled with the trunks of banana trees. The trunks of banana tree tied with strings and the mango leaves were tied in strings adorning the place. 

О sage, the white paddy, the next of leaves, the fruits, the tender Durva-grass, the sandal-paste, aguru, kasturi and the saffron, besides beverages were available in abundance there. Crores of cowherdesses were found there who were adorned with the gem-studded ornaments and their garlands of gems. They were wearing the armlets, anklets and wristlets of gems besides the pall of ear ornaments studded with gems. 

They were wearing the rings of gems of all the fingers of the hands as well as the toes. They were adorned with all the ornaments including the crown on the head and the precious gems as the nose ornaments. They had the spot of vermilion decorating their foreheads and their hair-do was beautifully done. They had the lustre of the beautiful champaka flowers, and their limbs were plastered with the sandal-paste. 

They were wearing the yellow garments and had the lips like the ripe wood-apples. Their faces were like the full moon of the winter season, the eyes resembling the full-blown lotuses of the winter season, kasturi, collyrium applied to the eyes, had the garlands of fully blossomed jasmine flowers round their necks surrounded by the black wasps which were greedy for the honey. Their walking resembled the royal elephant. They had the curved eyebrows and serene smile on the faces. Their teeth resembled the ripe pomegranate and the nose resembled that of the peak of Garuda, the beautiful breasts resembled the temples of the elephants which made them uneasy because of their weight, they had developed buttocks and till pelvic regions they shattered the mind because of the passionate advances and were anxious to look at the mirror to find their reflection in it. All these damsels were devoted at the lotus-like feet of Radhika and served her Rasamandala was quite well guarded by these damsels, which had lakhs of the streams for water sports, some of them had white, red and extremely red lotus flower were the birds were issuing sweets notes and the black-wasps, were producing hissing sound. 

There is ware several of the blossoming orchards containing the beds of flowers and the Rasamandala was filled with crores of hermitages. The appropriate things like camphor, betel, cloth, lamps of gems, white fly whisks, mirrors and the garlands of different flowers were available in abundance there. О sage, looking at the Rasamandala the gods came out in the open. 

The gods also found Vrundavana which was the favourite sports of Radha and Madhava which was quite beautiful and charming. 

They also had a look at the pleasure sports of Radhamadhava which had a number of kalpavruksha. At the bank of river Viraja, the cool breeze, which was blowing slowly disturbs river water, the lotus flowers were decorated with kasturi which appeared in bundles, issuing fragrance and the cuckoos which were perched on the tender leaves of the lotus flowers were issuing sweet notes. At certain spots of kadamba trees served as the best sporting places. It had a number of Mandara, champaka trees besides the sandal wood trees and the fragrance of the flowers pervaded everywhere. There were several trees of mangoes, jackfruit, tala, coconut, silk fruits, silk-fruit, jujube and palm trees in large numbers.

О Narada, besides the above there were the trees of betel nuts, Myrobalan, lemon banana, wood-apple, pomegranate, blossoming with ripe fruits. Besides there were trees of long-pepper, the fig tree, neem tree, teak-wood trees, silk cotton trees and tamarind trees. 

 All round, there were clusters of kalpavruksha besides the creepers of Mallika, Malati, jasmine and creepers of other fragrant flowers. О sage, there were fifty crores of cottages in which the lamps of gems remained burning, besides there were fragrant essence cosmetics and fragrant breeze, having the scent of sandal-paste. The beds were decorated with flowers and garlands which were surrounded by the black wasps producing the hissing sound, These cottages were surrounded by beautiful cowherdesses adorned with all the ornaments studded with gems. Thus, at the command of Radhika, the place was protected by fifty crores of cowherdesses. 

In that Vrundavana there were thirty-two forests which were quite charming, beautiful and served as ideal secluded places. 

О sage, it was filled with best of ripe and delicious fruits beside the cows and the abodes of cows, the blossoming fragrant flowers in thousands of gardens in which the blackwasps becoming greedy of the honey, always roamed about. There were fifty crores of cowherds who were as beautiful lord Krishna himself and were adorned with the gem-studded ornaments. Vrundavana was a place of exquisite beauty and enjoying the beauty of natural environment of the place, the gods reached Goloka which was circular in shape and was spread over crores of yojanas. 

О sage, it had the boundary walls in which the gems were studded and had four entrance gates guarded by the cowherds as door keeper. 

The cowherds who always remain-in attendance of lord Krishna had the abodes which were decorated with gems and having various items of pleasures the number of such houses ran into the fifty crores. Besides them, there were a hundred crores of the abodes of the groups of the cowherds, the construction of which was more beautiful than the earlier houses. All of them were studded with the best of gems, such of the abodes which were decorated with the best of gems belonged to the courtiers of the lord and their number was ten crores. The foremost of the courtiers look like lord Krishna himself and they have a crore of beautiful dwelling places built in gems to serve as their residence. 

Such of the cowherdesses who, were immensely devoted to Radhika had thirty-two crores of divine abodes. These were also constructed using the best of gems of very high quality. Their servants also had the abodes built with precious stones which looked quite beautiful, and they were crores in number. 

О sage, such of the devotees of the lord born on the sacred land of Bharata performed the severe tapas for a number of years and getting devoted to the lord and are relieved of the fetters of performing of deeds end they always recite the name of the lord while sleeping or awakes during the day or the night. For such devotees of lord Krishna, the impressive structures werebeen built, which are filled with many articles of dally consumption. They had enough of flower beds, flower garlands many of white flywhisks, mirrors of gems and other jewels. They also had valuable kalashas in large numbers decorating the tops of the houses and the certain were made of fine cloth. The number of such houses also into a hundred crores. 

Brahma, Shiva and other gods, roamed about with a delightful mind. They walked up to some distance and came across a beautiful banyan tree which was eternal in nature. That tree was spread into five yojanas and its height was ten yojanas. It had thousands of branches which looked quite charming. 

It had a large number of ripe fruits of red colour besides several pedestals. They saw a number of children resembling Krishna playing under the tree who were clad in yellow lower garment and were playing delightfully with their limbs plastered in the sandal-paste and their body were adorned with gem-studded ornaments. 

The gods found theirs the courtiers of lord Krishna. О sage, at a distance from that place, they came across the royal road which was built with red rubies emitting the lustre of vermilion. In its background there were several pedestals made in gems and jewels. On all the sides of the road, there were gem-studded resting places. There was a sprinkling of the scented water of sandal paste, aguru, kasturi and saffron. There were thousands of the trunks of banana trees besides the tender leaves, fried paddy, fruits, flowers, Durva-grass, fruits, flowers, which were tied in very thin cord which decorated the space in between the trunks of banana trees. The saffron was sprinkled over all of them, the mangala kalashas made of gems were consecrated at several places. The fruits and branches besides the fresh tender leaves decorated the kalas'has. The saffron, fragrance, vermilion and sandal paste were applied to them. These trees were decorated with the garlands of flowers which added to the grandeur of the royal houses. The cowherdesses in playful mood surrounded the road. Beautiful steps of gems were constructed there. 

In all, there were sixteen entrance gate which were decorated with beautiful fine garments purified by the fire and had the white flywhisks, mirrors, gem-studded beds and flower garlands. Several of the gatekeepers guarded the place. There were deep valleys around them and there were surrounded by boundary walls of red colours, after looking at such beautiful places, the gods proceeded further and they walked quite swiftly for some distance and came across the abode of Radha, the goddess of the divine dance. О Narada, the abode of Radha, the primeval goddess of the gods, the best of the cowherdesses and the beloved of Krishna, was built quite beautifully, the use of the divine material in the construction of that abode had added to its elegance. Everything of that place was inexplicable for all. Even the best of the intellectual were unable describe its beauty. That elegant place was built in a circular manner spread over an area of twelve kosas. There were several buildings in it. It had astonishing types of ashramas which continued shining with divine gems, it was created using the best of the gems. It had a number of inaccessible and deep valleys. The place was surrounded by the kalpavrukshas from all the sides and had a number of pleasure gardens in the same. The asrama was surrounded by the boundary walls built with precious stones, it had seven entrance gates and had elegant pedestals made of gems. 

The doors were studded with astonishing type of gems and also contained several types of paintings. After passing through the seven gates, one had to pass through sixteen other doors. The gods saw, its boundary wall had a height of a thousand bows and had a number of small kalas'has adorning the boundary wall. The sight delighted the gods immensely. 

Going round the place delightfully they moved forward for some distance. While doing so, they left the ashramas behind, thereafter they came across the abodes of cowherds and cowherdesses which were studded with gems. They were numbering a hundred crores. Thus, visualising the abodes of cowherds, cowherdesses, the entire as’hramas and new elegant spots-they went round the entire universe. Visual is the Goloka, their bodies were thrilled. They went wound the circular and pleasant Vrundavanas. The mountain with hundred peaks had the river Viraja flowing besides it. After crossing the Viraja, they found everything deserted. The astonishing Goloka was constructed with gems and was floating in the air. It was built at the command of Radhika with the approval of lord Krishna. It was the place of prosperity and had thousands of rivers. О sage, the gods also witness the pleasant dance accompanied with sweet music and the reciting the name of Radha and Sri Krishna. Listening to the songs, the gods were fainted. 

In a moment, they regained consciousness and mentally reciting the name of Krishna, they came across charming scenes at every step. They came across several cowherdesses clad in different type of costumes, some one was playing on double-drums and some one was playing on vina. Some one held the flywhisks in her hands, while other sounded the karatala. Some of them were holding musical instruments, while others produced dangling sound with the anklets worn by them. The waistbands studded with gems worn by some of them, were producing sound which resembled the sounds of bells. Some of them carried pitchers filled with water and were displaying various dance postures. Some of the cowherdesses were clad in male costumes white others served as the spouses; some of them appeared in the form of Krishna while others appeared in the form of Radha, some of them were getting separated per chance while others were embracing each other and still others were engaged in love-sports. Lord Vishnu smiled looking at them. 

О Narada, after covering some distance they came across several ashramas which serves as the dwelling places of the chief female friends of Radha all of them were equal in beauty, virtues, costumes youthfulness, fortune and age. There were thirtythree cowherdesses who we of the same age as Radha was. Their costumes were beyond description. You listen to their names. 

Their names were Susila, Shashikala, Yamuna, Madhavi, Rati, Kadambamala, Kunti, Jahnavi, Svayamprabha, Chandramukhi, Savitri, Gayatri, Sumukhi, Sukha, Padmalaya then Parijata, Gauri, Sarvamangala, Kalika, Kamala, Durga, Bharati, Sarasvati, Ganga, Ambika, Madhumati, Champa, Aparna Sundari, Krishnapriya, Sati, Nandini and Nandana. All of them had similar type of beauty and form as compared to Radha. Their auspicious abodes adorned with gems and other metals. Because of different types of paintings, they looked quite attractive. Their peaks were adorned with beautiful vases of gems which have divine lustre. They were created from best of gems. 

Goloka stood beyond the globe and above it, there is no other place above the same. Above that, it is all void there. There happens to be the end of the creation beyond the seven neither world, since there is only darkness and water below them and the place is inaccessible, and nothing can be seen there. You listen from me the things, which one comes across, up to the globe and beyond it.