Lets Chant Together

Japa Talk Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami Maharaja
Date: 04-09-2026
Theme: Sri Kṛṣṇa Janmashtami mahotsav

Sub theme: Significance of the appearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
All glories to the festival of Sri Kṛṣṇa Janmashtami!

You have arrived here since early morning for this festival, and those who are present right now—it is not just you, who are present, at this time, we have devotees present from at least 2,000 locations. Nagpur is one such location. Similarly, there are devotees present from many other temples in those locations—like Iskcon Pandharpur, Iskcon Noida, Iskcon Solapur, and so on and on. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to All India Padayatra!

There is also a North India Padayatra, an Odia Padayatra, and similarly, all glories to the Maharashtra Padayatra! Along with that, there is a group or category of devotees called Krishna Bandhus, and those devotees are also present.

Who knows! Demigods must have also arrived!
On this great festival day, a warm welcome to all the assembled devotees.
Welcome, welcome, a very hearty welcome!

Along with that, Sudinam—a very happy day. It is Kṛṣṇa’s birthday. He came to make us all happy by descending to this earth 5,252 or 5,253 years ago on this very day—not during the day, but during the night—all glories to Krishna Kanhaiya Lal! He was not born; rather, [what happened?] He appeared or descended. Is there any need to say anything separate about how great today is? Isn’t it a great day?

You might be thinking about it, but I am certainly thinking it is a great day. Such great days do come, but this day holds a unique significance. This is the greatest day because it is the appearance day of the greatest Supreme Personality of Godhead, Purushottama Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He Himself has said, “mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat”—there is no truth superior to Me, no one is equal to Me, and no one is higher than Me.

mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat
kiñcid asti dhanañ-jaya
mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ
sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva

Translation
O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. (Bg. 7.7)
“Asamordhva” is also said —Asama means no one is equal to Me, and Urdhva means above. Kṛṣṇa alone is Asamordhva. Therefore, the day the Lord appeared also becomes Asamordhva (unequalled). There cannot be any other day as great as today. Kṛṣṇa is His name, and Gokula is His abode. My repeated obeisances, and the obeisances of all of us to the Lord who appeared on this day.

Sub Theme: Essential Duties of a Devotee

He has also said that we should offer our respects to Him: “man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru.”

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto
mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te
pratijāne priyo ’si me

Translation
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend. (Bg.18.65)
We are doing exactly what the Lord has instructed. Seeing this, the Lord will be pleased with you. The Lord said man-manā, meaning what? Remember Me. Bhava mad-bhakto—He did not just say “become a devotee,” He said “become My devotee. “Mad-yājī—worship Me. And māṁ namaskuru—offer your obeisances to Me. These are four things to take note of—four duties that the Lord spoke of: remember Him, become His devotee, worship Him, and what is left? Offer respects. With every duty, the Lord emphasized doing it for Him—remember Me, become My devotee, worship Me, and offer your respects to Me. It is very clear. This is Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, just as the Lord spoke it.

Sub Theme: The Purpose of Lord Krishna’s Descent

Mercifully, Lord further said, “mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo ‘si me.” The Lord who appears in this world— Kṛṣṇa appeared today—what is His purpose? His purpose is to take all of us back home, back to Godhead, since we all belong to Kṛṣṇa. The Lord wants to take us to where He resides. Hari Hari! Because our real home is also there. What is our motherland or fatherland? India, Australia, Canada? No. We have forgotten our real, eternal mother and father. Because we forgot them, we also forgot our true motherland and fatherland. So who is the mother? “tvam eva mātā ca pitā tvaṁ eva”.

vithu maza lekurwala, sange gopalancha mela.

Translation
My Lord Vitthal is surrounded by children (devotees), accompanied by a gathering of the cowherds/devotees. (Vithu Maza Lekurwala abhang )

sarva-yoniṣu kaunteya
mūrtayaḥ sambhavanti yāḥ
tāsāṁ brahma mahad yonir
ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā

Translation
It should be understood that all species of life, O son of Kuntī, are made possible by birth in this material nature, and that I am the seed-giving father. (Bg. 14.4)
The Lord said, “ahaṁ bīja-pradaḥ pitā”—I am the seed-giving father. Lord Kṛṣṇa is our father, mother, and everything. Mama sarva deva devah (My Lord of all lords). We are lost and wandering living entities. To take us, the lost souls back to His home, to remind us of it, and to guide us onto that path—”mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ” (the path trodden by great authorities)—the Lord comes here.

tarko ’pratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnā
nāsāv ṛṣir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ
mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ

Translation
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “’Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.’ ” (CC Madhya 17.186)
Ultimately,

na tad bhāsayate sūryo
na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ
yad gatvā na nivartante
tad dhāma paramaṁ mama

Translation
That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world. (Bg. 15.6)
My abode where I reside is-

goloka-nāmni nija-dhāmni tale ca tasya
devi maheśa-hari-dhāmasu teṣu teṣu
te te prabhāva-nicayā vihitāś ca yena
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation
Lowest of all is located Devī-dhāma [mundane world], next above it is Maheśa-dhāma [abode of Maheśa]; above Maheśa-dhāma is placed Hari-dhāma [abode of Hari] and above them all is located Kṛṣṇa’s own realm named Goloka. I adore the primeval Lord Govinda, who has allotted their respective authorities to the rulers of those graded realms. (Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā 5.43)
Lord comes here to take us there.

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Translation
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to re-establish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium. (Bg. 4.8)
“saṁbhavāmi yuge yuge”—He appears millennium after millennium. This is Kṛṣṇa’s mercy upon all living entities. If He does not bestow His mercy, who else is there to show us mercy? “he krishna karuna sindhu”—that is why He is addressed as karuna sindhu, the ocean of mercy. If we receive even a single drop from that ocean of mercy, our lives will be blessed. A lot can be done today. I was thinking: “Thank you, Kṛṣṇa, for Your appearance. Thank you! And a special thank you because I am also celebrating Your birthday, and You remembered me at Your birthday party.” Do you feel like that? You should feel like this. The narrations(katha) are going on. Yesterday as well, I was speaking on these pastimes, and while narrating, we reached the point of Vasudeva.

Sub Theme: Vasudeva taking darshans of Vāsudeva

Translation
Vasudeva then saw the newborn child, who had very wonderful lotuslike eyes and who bore in His four hands the four weapons śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma. On His chest was the mark of Śrīvatsa and on His neck the brilliant Kaustubha gem. Dressed in yellow, His body blackish like a dense cloud, His scattered hair fully grown, and His helmet and earrings sparkling uncommonly with the valuable gem Vaidūrya, the child, decorated with a brilliant belt, armlets, bangles and other ornaments, appeared very wonderful. (ŚB 10.3.9-10)
vasudeva aikṣata -Vasudev saw.. [Is it blocking your path? Or maybe behind, quickly do something.] “tam adbhutaṁ bālakam ambujekṣaṇaṁ catur-bhujaṁ” Wherever this aṁ,aṁ,aṁ comes— adbhutaṁ, ambujekṣaṇaṁ, catur-bhujaṁ, yudham, lakṣmaṁ, kaustubhaṁ, pītāmbaraṁ, saubhagam- means ‘like this’. Vasudeva looked at such a form of Kṛṣṇa. That is also something to understand.
Who did Vasudeva see? Basically, he saw Vāsudeva (the Supreme Lord), vasudevam aikshata, This can also be said. Vasudevah vāsudevam aikshata… Vasudev saw Vāsudeva. One name of the Lord is Vāsudeva because the son of Vasudeva is called Vāsudeva. How is that Vāsudeva? Wonderful adbhutaṁ, there is also in between ‘bālakam’ this am is also hidden in between- He saw a wonderful child.

Look at His eyes—how are they? Ambujekṣaṇam. Ambu means water, and ja means that which takes birth in water.

Who else takes birth in water? Jala-ja, jalachar, the aquatic animals. Ambu-ja is the lotus flower. The Lord’s eyes are like lotus petals—lotus-eyed. catur-bhujaṁ..
This is Mathura, the city of gold. In Mathura, the Lord appears with four arms (catur-bhujaṁ), while in Vrindavan, He has two arms (dvi-bhujaṁ). Since He is appearing in Mathura, He appears with four arms, holding His respective symbols—the conch, disc, club, and lotus. śaṅkha-gadādy-udāyudham. And śrīvatsa-lakṣmaṁ —on His chest, there are some bunch of golden hairs. That mark is the abode of Lakshmi. The Lord always keeps Lakshmi on His chest, as if always embracing and kissing her etc. This is Mathura, there might be one Lakshmi, but in Vrindavan, one Lakshmi is not enough. How many Lakshmis are needed there?

“lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānam”—He is served by hundreds of thousands of Lakshmis. He wears the Kaustubha gem around His neck.

cintāmaṇi-prakara-sadmasu kalpa-vṛkṣa-
lakṣāvṛteṣu surabhīr abhipālayantam
lakṣmī-sahasra-śata-sambhrama-sevyamānaṁ
govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation
I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the first progenitor who is tending the cows, yielding all desire, in abodes built with spiritual gems, surrounded by millions of purpose trees, always served with great reverence and affection by hundreds of thousands of lakṣmīs or gopīs. (Śrī Brahma-saṁhitā 5.29)
You can connect all these attributes:

tam adbhutaṁ bālakam vasudeva aikṣata, tam adbhutaṁ bālakam ambujekṣaṇaṁ vasudeva aikṣata Or can also say separately… catur-bhujaṁ bālakam vasudeva aikṣata, gala-śobhi-kaustubhaṁ bālakam vasudeva aikṣata, Many such statements can be formed. He saw all of this.

Pītāmbaraṁ—He wears yellow garments (pīta means yellow, ambara means cloth). The Lord’s name itself becomes Pītāmbara—the one who wears yellow clothes.
sāndra-prasanna-payoda-saubhagam—His bodily complexion is like a dark, moisture-laden cloud. Paya means milk and also water, and da means the giver.
Who gives water? Clouds give water. Such is the Sanskrit language—the language of the gods, beautiful. The Lord is Shyamasundara; How is His beauty? Listen with open eyes and an open heart! How beautiful is the Lord,

sundar te dhyan ubhe vitevari
kar katavari thevuniya

Translation
How beautiful is the form of the Lord, standing on a brick, with His hands resting on His waist. (Sundar Te Dhyan Ubhe Vitevari abhang)
That is also the beauty!

jayati jayati devo devakī-nandano ’sau
jayati jayati kṛṣṇo vṛṣṇi-vaṁśa-pradīpaḥ
jayati jayati megha-śyāmalaḥ komalāṅgo
jayati jayati pṛthvī-bhāra-nāśo mukundaḥ

Translation
“All glories unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the son of Devakī! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as the light of the dynasty of Vṛṣṇi! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose bodily luster is like that of a new cloud, and whose body is as soft as a lotus flower! All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appeared on this planet to deliver the world from the burden of demons, and who can offer liberation to everyone!’ (CC Madhya 13.78)
“jayati jayati devo devakī-nandano ‘sau”—All glories to the son of Devaki!

All glories to Jagannātha! All glories to Caitanya Mahaprabhu!

When Caitanya Mahaprabhu would go to the Jagannātha Rath Yatra, he would offer full prostrated obeisances in front of Lord Jagannātha. With folded hands, he would pray, “O Jagannātha, You are the son of Devaki.”

“jayati jayati kṛṣṇo vṛṣṇi-vaṁśa-pradīpaḥ jayati jayati megha-śyāmalaḥ komalaṅgo” You have a form, a body; You possess all limbs. You are neither attribute-less nor formless. For those who believe God is formless and attribute-less, Janmashtami holds no meaning.

How can impersonalists celebrate Janmashtami? They say “ahaṁ brahmāsmi”—I am Brahman. They worship themselves, and their ego knows no bounds. Saying “I am Brahman” is the ego. Janmashtami is not for them.

As the Lord says, “avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam”—fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They are like asses who do not understand My supreme nature.

avajānanti māṁ mūḍhā
mānuṣīṁ tanum āśritam
paraṁ bhāvam ajānanto
mama bhūta-maheśvaram

Translation
Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be. (Bg. 9.11)

This festival is for the devotees, for the Vaishnavas. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, The Lord’s form is megha-śyāmala—He is dark-complexioned like a monsoon cloud. If you see him. He is śyām-varan (blackish complexion). If you touch Him, His body is komala—very soft, very tender, and very gentle. If you want to touch something (any form or body) soft and tender, nothing in this world can compare to the soft limbs of Kṛṣṇa, their śyāmaltā or komaltā. Forget about the so-called soft bodies of this material world.

Let’s move to the next topic. Vasudeva saw the Lord. Vasudeva was the very first person to take darshans of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Within moments, both Vasudeva and Mother Devaki were beholding Him. All glories to Vasudeva and Devaki! What immense fortune that the Supreme Lord is becoming their son!

Sub Theme: Mellows experienced in Mathura versus in Vrindavan

In the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Śukadeva Goswami explains that Vasudeva and Devaki offered prayers and glorified Him. Ordinarily, does anyone offer prayers to a newborn baby? When you mothers gave birth, or when your husbands came in, did you both start offering formal prayers to the baby? But this child is no ordinary child. The form they just witnessed was catur-bhujaṁ and adbhutaṁ—He is the Supreme Lord. So they prayed to Him.

However, Nanda baba and Yashoda do not offer such prayers. This affection is mixed with awe and opulence (aiśvarya-mayī vātsalya). The thought that “God is great” is still present in Vasudeva and Devaki. Such a thought never enters Mother Yashoda’s mind; her love is pure, intimate affection (viśrambha-vātsalya). Vishrambha sakhya, vishrambh vatsalya, vishrambha mādhurya.

That is why this place is Mathura. Kṛṣṇa later told Uddhava, “Mathura is a city of gold, where calculations and market values constantly run. The mood here is different. But O Uddhava, ‘mohi braja bisarata nāhīñ’—I can never forget Vraja.”

Ūdhau, mohi Braja visarat nāhīṁ,
Vṛndāvana Gokula vana upavana, saghana kuñja kī chāhīṁ.

Translation

O Uddhava, I cannot forget Braja. I cannot forget Vrindavan, Gokul, its forests and groves, and the cool shade of its dense kunjas.( Sursagar by Mahakavi Surdas)
In Vraja, only the dealings of pure love exist—an exchange of unalloyed love. Exchange of love, loving dealings, exchanges are there in Vrindavan.

Those highest exchanges do not happen in Mathura. Therefore, technically Vasudeva and Devaki should not have had to offer formal prayers, but they had to because they belong to Mathura Dhama and the Lord also appeared in Mathura. For your information, the Lord is Pūrṇa (complete) in Dwarka, Pūrṇatara (more complete) in Mathura, and in Vrindavan Dhama—I am emphasizing this, All glories to Vrindavan dham because of its special significance—He is Pūrṇatama (most complete). Lord Purushottama resides in Vrindavan.

The way the Lord behaves with the devotees in Vrindavan cannot happen in Mathura. What happens in Mathura cannot happen in Dwarka, what happens in Dwarka cannot happen in Vaikuntha, what happens in Vaikuntha cannot happen in heaven, and what happens in heaven cannot happen in Nagpur! So like that, these gradations. While praying, they requested: “upasaṁhara viśvātmann ado rūpam alaukikam”

upasaṁhara viśvātmann
ado rūpam alaukikam
śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma-
śriyā juṣṭaṁ catur-bhujam

Translation
O my Lord, You are the all-pervading Supreme Personality of Godhead, and Your transcendental four-armed form, holding conchshell, disc, club and lotus, is unnatural for this world. Please withdraw this form [and become just like a natural human child so that I may try to hide You somewhere]. (ŚB 10.3.30)

They asked Him to withdraw this or wind up this God like four-armed, extraordinary, divine form. Because Vasudeva and Devaki were terrified because Kamsa had already killed their previous six sons, and he wanted to kill the seventh as well. But the seventh son (Balarama) eluded his grasp. If someone tries to cheat the Lord, like Kamsa tried to do, the Lord becomes the ultimate cheater (Mahā-ṭhag) for them, just as He did for Hiranyakashipu. Lord Balarama saptamam dhama…Sukadeva Goswami described Lord Balarama as the seventh child. Anyway, I think we have to cover a lot of ground, I should go faster. Look at what Kamsa did, despite being their maternal uncle (Māmā). Kamsa was the uncle of the children Devaki gave birth to. What kind of uncle was he?

“Kamapurta mama, takapurti aajibai”(An uncle for the sake of work, a grandmother for the sake of buttermilk.”) [The Marathi phrase] O aajibai! O mama! Kamsa was an uncle only in name, not in action. Of course, Vasudeva and Devaki wanted to save this child. Out of parental affection, they feared Kamsa might kill Him. Even ordinary devotees, what to speak of initiated or advanced devotees know that God cannot be killed.

Sub Theme: The veil of Yoga maya
nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi
nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ
na cainaṁ kledayanty āpo
na śoṣayati mārutaḥ

Translation
The soul can never be cut to pieces by any weapon, nor burned by fire, nor moistened by water, nor withered by the wind. (Bg. 2.23)
There, they were talking about the soul, and Krishna tells Arjuna, “You say you do not want to kill, you do not want to kill, no! show me how to do it? you cannot kill the soul.” Because who are all these people? They are souls. If the ordinary soul cannot be killed, then can the Supersoul (Paramātmā) ever be killed? The soul can never be killed, nor moistened, nor burnt, nor cut. This is the ABC of knowledge, which our devotees know, but at that moment, Vasudeva and Devaki did not know it.

This is the action of Yoga-māyā. Yoga-māyā makes one forget the absolute divinity of the Lord so that parental affection (vātsalya) becomes possible. The feeling that “the Lord is my son” is only possible when Yoga-māyā covers the fact that He is the Supreme God, making them feel “He is our child,” just like anyone else has a son or a daughter . They feared Kamsa might kill Him.

For us, Mahā-māyā (the material energy) works, but there is a divine energy (called Yoga-māyā). One is laukik maya (maha maya) and the other is alaukik maya (yoga maya). Yoga-māyā places such thoughts into the hearts of the residents of Vrindavan, Mathura, and Dwarka. Because of this, Vasudeva and Devaki were worried that Kamsa would kill Him, so they pleaded, “O soul of the universe, please withdraw this four-armed form and become an ordinary child.” Let’s move forward. So we skipped one slide…

śrī-śuka uvāca
ity uktvāsīd dharis tūṣṇīṁ
bhagavān ātma-māyayā
pitroḥ sampaśyatoḥ sadyo
babhūva prākṛtaḥ śiśuḥ

Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After thus instructing His father and mother, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, remained silent. In their presence, by His internal energy, He then transformed Himself into a small human child. [In other words, He transformed Himself into His original form: kṛṣṇas tu bhagavān svayam.] (ŚB 10.3.46)
When thus requested by Vasudev and Devaki, Kṛṣṇa or Vaasudev wound up that form and, He became a prākṛta-śiśu—a small human-like child. Babhūva – from Sanskrit verbal root ‘bhū’, bhū means ‘to become’ and Babhūva means (He) became. Who He became? He became like an ordinary child, a two-armed form and small.

tataś ca śaurir bhagavat-pracoditaḥ
sutaṁ samādāya sa sūtikā-gṛhāt
yadā bahir gantum iyeṣa tarhy ajā
yā yoga-māyājani nanda-jāyayā

Translation
Thereafter, exactly when Vasudeva, being inspired by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was about to take the newborn child from the delivery room, Yoga-māyā, the Lord’s spiritual energy, took birth as the daughter of the wife of Mahārāja Nanda. (ŚB 10.3.47)

Even though He appeared like an ordinary child, He is still the Supreme Lord. The Lord inspired Vasudeva because both parents feared that staying in the prison house in the divine form would be dangerous. Upasaṁhara…thus Lord became like an ordinary human child.

Besides, The Lord’s idea was: “Get Me out of here. There is danger in this prison; Kamsa can come at any moment.”- Lord Vaasudev gave an inspiration to Vasudeva.

samādāya sa sūtikā-gṛhāt yadā bahir gantum

Outside, where outside? He indicated: “Take Me to Gokula Dhama.” All glories to Gokul dhama!

Vasudeva understood the hint: “Pick Me up, take Me out of here, take Me to Gokula.” Vasudeva might have thought for a moment, “Don’t You see my chains and shackles?” But the Lord inspired him to just lift Him up and carry Him. The moment Vasudeva lifted the child, right on the spot, what happened to the iron chains and shackles? Tell, what must have happened? If you are awake, you will answer. That happened (They broke open instantly!). Along with this, there is also some teaching that if we are also celebrating Sri Kṛṣṇa Janmashtami today and if we accept Kṛṣṇa, if we adopt Kṛṣṇa in our lives, by doing so, what will happen? All our shackles and chains—what then? You won’t even go back home.

na tad bhāsayate sūryo
na śaśāṅko na pāvakaḥ
yad gatvā na nivartante
tad dhāma paramaṁ mama

Translation
That supreme abode of Mine is not illumined by the sun or moon, nor by fire or electricity. Those who reach it never return to this material world. (Bg. 15.6)
You have already arrived at the holy abode—whether it is Radha Pandharinath, Radha Govinda, or Radha Gopinath temple. What does the Lord say? Anyone who comes to Me does not return from there. He has come back home. So you will stay. This is serious; it is not a laughing matter or a joke. Achieving such a result is possible if you take it seriously. If we experience or realise this Kṛṣṇa consciousness,

Sub Theme: Benedictions given by Lord Krishna
uttiṣṭhata jāgrata prāpya varānnibodhata |
kṣurasya dhārā niśitā duratyayā durgaṁ pathastatkavayo vadanti ||

Translation
“Arise! Awake! Approach the great ones and learn from them. The sages say that the path to Self-realization is as difficult to tread as the sharp edge of a razor.” (Katha Upanishad 1.3.14 )

Get up, Wake up, and Understand! What should we understand? The Lord has given so many benedictions. What is the benediction?

bhajahū re mana śrī-nanda-nandana
abhaya-caraṇāravinda re
durlabha mānava-janama sat-saṅge
taroho e bhava-sindhu re

Translation
O mind, just worship the lotus feet of the son of Nanda, which make one fearless. Having obtained this rare human birth, cross over this ocean of worldly existence by associating with saintly persons. (Bhajahū Re Mana – text 1 )

durlabha mānava ..This rare human life has been given. This is a benediction. All of you have received it, right? You have received a human body. That’s one thing. durlabha mānava-janama sat-saṅge ..Coming in Iskcon means what? What is obtained there? Sat sang (saintly or devotees association) –
The second benediction. Human body is received- a benediction. Holy association is being received- a benediction.

What will be the result of this?

taroho e bhava-sindhu re ..By crossing across this ocean of material existence, your deliverance can happen or you can be saved.
Gaura Premanande Hari Haribol!

I am not going to finish here. You might be clapping and saying, “Thank you, Maharaja, that’s enough”. I don’t know when the darshans are going to open. I have a lot of ground to cover. Yes, 8:30. So make up your mind that until 8:30, Maharaja is not going to leave us.

Hari! Today, if you get some other additional realizations and you experience something more, and something more you understand, additional to whatever you have experienced so far, then today is a special day! On this day, how much progress and advancement we can make! This day is meant for doing that. There is devotee association as well, for that very purpose. For that very purpose, we are celebrating the Kṛṣṇa Janmashtami festival all over the world. Okay.

Sub Theme: Krishna’s activities are transcendental

Vasudeva is carrying Vaasudeva. The illusory energy of the Lord has put all the guards to sleep very well. (Maharaja makes a sound) in order to wake you up. Thus, the way is clearing up for Vasudeva; there is no obstacle.

Like this. I was thinking that, you can also think the same way: “Oh, this is a small child, and he is very helpless”. But He is the one getting all these tasks done. With the help of Yoga-maya (divine energy) or with the help of His potency, the Lord makes His power and His work successful; He manages it and completes it. It happens merely by His will. Lord’s supreme will is enough. Just a desire arose in the Lord’s mind, and Yoga-maya and other assistants noted it down, and then—work done!

This is Krishna’s style of working, or His ways of doing things are different. “I just have to go to Gokula. Take Me there”. Thus, whatever is happening on the path, the Lord Himself is doing it. But the experience is something else entirely-

Is Krishna helpless? He’s not doing anything… Not at all! He is the one. Okay. What was the use of other watchmen and extra security? Kamsa knew that on one of these days or nights, the eighth child was to be born. He had put up additional security. For Janmashtami, additional security! All that security was useless, Lutuputu (false). On the way, there are many gates—door after door after door. Vasudeva arrived. His hands were busy holding Krishna. How will he open the gate? Neither does he have any key. But there is no need. As soon as Vasudeva reached the gate carrying Vaasudeva, (opening sound) what you call ‘automatic’, happened. We call it automatic when we do not know who did it. That’s why we say automatic.

There is nothing automatic. Nothing in the world is automatic. Behind it, there is always some power, logic, or some arrangement. Behind this, the Lord Himself is the doer and the cause. Who is the doer and the cause? Either He does it or gets it done

As soon as they came out of the prison, the first person meeting Krishna, Krishna’s greeting is happening: Suswagatam Kṛṣṇa, swagatam Kṛṣṇa, swagatam Kṛṣṇa, (Welcome Kṛṣṇa).
The one welcoming Him is Balarama. He was already born in Gokula. From there, He has arrived in Mathura. He is also the servant of the Lord. He is the Supreme Lord. You have heard this fact. He is a worshippable Lord. He is worthy of service; His service should happen, only service should happen. But He becomes worshipper Lord because Balarama is also the original spiritual master, so playing the role of the original spiritual master,.. what does the spiritual master do?

He serves the Lord. Similarly, this Balarama, the spiritual master, what will He do? He will serve the Lord.

See what kinds of services He is going to perform here. One thing is, rain was also falling gently, mandam mandam jaladhara. A gentle, drizzling rain is falling (rim jhim). Balarama has a form called Ananta Shesha. With His hoods, He made that—what did He make? He made an umbrella. Service done! It is the middle of the night.

See what time they are going there, see what time. At what time did they come out of the prison? Yes? 2 o’clock. At 12 o’clock, moonrise happened, right? Look how high the moon has come. Yes, easily an hour or an hour and a half passed while prayers and other things were going on there, a lot of things.It is dark. Balarama, Ananta Shesha, on His hoods, what are there? There are gems, jewels. By that light, Vasudeva also started to see something.

I was also coming in the morning for Mangala-arati, then devotees arrived holding their mobiles to show me the way. Ananta Shesha became a torch, a lantern, or a torch. Thus, He served in this way. In this picture, you might see closely—I don’t know—are there any sleeping ones? Look, yes. Dogs are asleep. This was the first night in the history of the universe. At night, these guards, unpaid guards, dogs become guards, and how uselessly they bark! If they had started barking upon seeing Vasudeva, many people would have woken up. “Vasudeva, Vasudeva!” they would have called Kamsa on a mobile phone to give information. Then what a huge problem would have arisen from that! To avoid that, Yoga-maya had not only put the watchmen to sleep, but these watchmen, the dogs who are also guards, put them to sleep too. The path is clear. Okay.

Sub Theme: The crossing of Yamuna

All glories to Yamuna maiya!
Vasudeva reached the banks of Yamuna Maiya. Yamuna is not just water; water is also Yamuna and what else is Yamuna? Yamuna is also a personality.

gange cha yamune chaiva godavari saraswati
narmade sindhu kaveri jale’smin sannidhim kuru

Translation
“O Holy Rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri! Please enter into this water and sanctify it with your divine presence.” (Nāradīya Purāṇa 1.27.33)
All rivers—Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu, Kaveri —why only seven? All the rivers, all the mountains. This is the understanding… Even all our scriptures, all of them have personifications; they have their own distinct personality. They are personalities, they are persons.

The embodiment or personification of mercy, in Marathi or Hindi, they say murtimant (personified).

When Yamuna becomes personified, she is Kalindi, she is Yamuna. she saw, “Oh, He is my Lord, He is Kṛṣṇa Kanhaiya”. She has to assist Him. “If I do not assist…” She is thinking about what will happen. When Rama had to go to Lanka, but in between there was an ocean, a sea.

The sea, the Indian Ocean. He was busy, the ocean was also (in this picture). See, the ocean is also a person, a deity or demigod. Also, he was busy elsewhere; he did not pay any attention. The Lord was in a hurry. In anger, He created such a turmoil in the entire ocean, and then the Lord of the ocean came to his senses and came forward.

Thus, Yamuna is thinking, “If I do not help Him now in crossing Yamuna He might treat me the same way He treated the ocean”. That’s one thing. Another thing she is thinking is, “Oh, I am going to get married to Him anyway When He grows up and becomes of marriageable age, and I would also be of marriageable age, then I am going to become His fourth principal queen in Dwaraka”

You are saying Haribol but if Yamuna did not help, and then when the proposal for marriage comes, what will happen? Will there be any favourable thoughts?
“No, I know, I know you did nothing. I had to cross Yamuna, and you just sat there, stayed asleep, did nothing. Now you want to make me your husband? Get lost”. Anyway, something like that.

Yamuna gave a path, even before this, right? Vasudev is entering. Before giving a path, Vasudeva was experiencing Yamuna’s water rising and rising. Why was it rising? Yamuna wanted to touch Kṛṣṇa’s feet just once. With this purpose. As soon as she touched,

What happened next?

See here, On one side 50 feet of water was flowing, and on the other side also. Literally walking in the riverbed, Vasudeva. Not walking on the water, brother. Walking and crossing in the river. After crossing, when they reached the other bank of the river, a ghat (bank steps) is built there now.

What is its name? What is it named? Open your eyes and read: Koile. Some devotees or the devotees of Braja express this feeling(bhava). A panda (priest) of our ISKCON, Deena Bandhu Prabhu says that Vasudeva was as if saying,

“Oh, someone take my darling(lala)! Oh, is anyone here? Is anyone here? Someone take my darling … someone take Him, someone take Him, someone take Him”. Where Vasudeva said this, a ghat was built at that place, and it was named what? Koile Ghat, which reminds us that the Lord had crossed Yamuna here.

Now the destination has to be reached . What is the destination? Which is the destination place?

All glories to Gokula Dham!

On the way, two kinds of thoughts were coming to Vasudeva’s mind. They are named Dhruta and Vilambita pace. Dhruta means what? Dhruta means fast and Vilambita means slow, slow. Like I am saying, slow terms. Mand, words spoken like that, from that, their meaning, their implied meaning is also understood. Vilambita… why was it so? Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. When he goes slowly, with a vilambita pace, he thinks, “If I go like this, and if Kamsa finds out, he can come, he can follow or pursue us. Therefore, what should I do? I should run a bit faster to deliver Vaasudeva, my darling, to Gokula”. Thinking like this, when moving forward with speed and pace, then he thinks, “If I go with such speed, I will reach right now. Then what is the problem? The problem is that the physical association of this child that I am getting, the close association I am getting…” By the way, when we listen to this pastime, we also get the close association of Krishna… in many forms. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna—this is also a form (swaroop) of the Lord. Pastimes are also a form (swaroop) of the Lord.
Thus, the soul gets association. Vasudeva is thinking, “If I go at this speed, I will reach right now, then I will keep this child there in the house of Nanda (Nanda Bhavan), and then I will be… I will be deprived of the association of the Kṛṣṇa child. I will remain deprived, deprived. I will be deprived of the association of Krishna” He is going with this fast pace, and Nanda Bhavan arrives.

Sub theme: Two Krishna theory

All glories to Nanda Bhavan!
All glories to Gokula Dham!

Ultimately, entering Nanda Bhavan, and then in that chamber or room—it is called the delivery room (sutika grha)—Vasudeva reached there carrying Vasudeva-nandan.
Here in Gokula, Mother Yashoda… Yashoda has… this is a bit mysterious or a confidential matter for you which Prabhupada explained in the first verse of the next chapter as well, that these two Kṛṣṇa — Kṛṣṇa also becomes the son of Devaki. As the son of Devaki, when He took birth in Mathura, at the same time, at the exact same time in Gokula, He also became the son of Yashoda. No, Yashoda also gives birth to Krishna. Thus, two Kṛṣṇa theory and understanding.

Then as Kṛṣṇa had said, “Yoga-maya, you will take birth as the daughter of Yashoda”.

Yesterday, we were told from the Bhagavatam, Sukadeva Goswami said, “Yoga-maya, you go, first transfer Balarama from the womb of Devaki to the womb of Rohini. Then when Krishna is born, or Yashoda gives birth to Krishna, you will become Yashoda’s daughter”.

Just as it was said, it is happening. Yoga-maya is called Krishnanuja (younger sister of Krishna) Krishnanuja, what did we say? Krishnanuja means Krishna is born first, or Yashoda gave birth to Krishna, and immediately after that, Yoga-maya took birth as a daughter. Born immediately after Krishna, this girlchild is called Krishnanuja.
A boy and a girl, Yashoda gave birth to these two. Now what is going to happen? Vasudeva, who brought Vasudeva-nandan; these two Kṛṣṇas—Vasudeva Kṛṣṇa and Nanda Nandan Kṛṣṇa, let’s say—they are going to become one. Okay, from the philosophical viewpoint, all this is possible. Is there anything artificial or manufactured in this? No, it’s not like that.
Okay.

Then the girl who was there, Vasudeva will take her away. Look here, show this scene too. Two children, two Kṛṣṇa became one Kṛṣṇa.
He(Vasudev) will take Yoga-maya to Devaki in Mathura. Then the next day, Kamsa will try to kill her. She will slip from his hands, saying, “The one who will kill you is born elsewhere. Why me?” Okay, so now we will go real fast. What is next? Along with this, the second chapter… all of you here? You mean our other participants, the temple authorities, the congregation, the padayatris, and like that. Shyam Sundar Sharma ji is sitting. A lot of devotees are still here. Yes, we have lost some, but most of them are still here. [What happened?]

All glories to Gokula Dham! Now, then that night passed. Vasudeva, maybe by 2 o’clock or 2:30, reached Nanda Bhavan, kept the boy, and returned with the girl. The next morning, which is Navami (the ninth day). Ashtami (the eighth day) passed, the day passed, the night also passed. Nanda Maharaja and everyone woke up in the morning. You also wake up, the dawn has come, it’s dawn. It’s almost 8:30.

Sub Theme: Krishna as Ananda

Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Nanda Mahārāja was naturally very magnanimous, and when Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa appeared as his son, he was overwhelmed by jubilation. Therefore, after bathing and purifying himself and dressing himself properly, he invited brāhmaṇas who knew how to recite Vedic mantras. After having these qualified brāhmaṇas recite auspicious Vedic hymns, he arranged to have the Vedic birth ceremony celebrated for his newborn child according to the rules and regulations, and he also arranged for worship of the demigods and forefathers. (ŚB 10.5.1-2)
When Nanda Maharaja woke up, it was a good morning for him. Good morning, with good news for him. No one else knew what happened during the night, Yashoda gave birth to a boy and a girl, this and that. Nanda Maharaja was the first person. He lives in Nanda Bhavan, lives in his own house. Thus, when he came to know, atmaja utpanne (a son is born). From this it comes to know who Krishna is- atmaja. His own son has taken birth. Jato jata-hlado (joy arose or there is bliss). Nanda Maharaj experienced great bliss. Why?

Nanda ke ghara ananda bhayo

(In the house of Nanda, there appears bliss. In the house of Nanda, in the house of Nanda, what happened?

In the house of Nanda, ananda bhayo. Meaning bliss arose or appeared in Nanda Maharaja’s house, bhayo means to arise or appear or to be there, that is one meaning. What is the second meaning?

In Nanda Maharaja’s house, Nanda-nandan, Krishna, appeared. Krishna’s name can also be just Ananda. There is no doubt about it; one name of Krishna is Ananda.
Anand hi anand gade, ikde tikde chohikade “There is joy and happiness everywhere, here, there, and in all directions”.

Ahuyya vipran veda-jnan (He called the learned brahmanas). Nanda Maharaja spread the news throughout the entire Braja Mandala. We are proud. We people of this modern world, we have fast ways of communicating, fast communication. But the way Nanda Maharaja communicated that morning, no one can compete with him. They all will be defeated. In whole Vraja, in every home, to every person, the news reached. What news? Nanda ke ghar ananda bhayo! In Nanda’s house… and what did you experience? Bliss. [How does this work? Do something.] The festival began. We are seeing, what is the name of this festival?

Sub Theme: Nandotsava celebrations

Nandotsava. The name of this festival is Nandotsava. This is the first Krishna Janmashtami, but the first Krishna Ashtami was celebrated on the day of Navami; in the morning, when the birth of Krishna became known, Nanda Maharaja made all the preparations.

dhenūnāṁ niyute prādād
viprebhyaḥ samalaṅkṛte
tilādrīn sapta ratnaugha-
śātakaumbhāmbarāvṛtān

Translation
Nanda Mahārāja gave two million cows, completely decorated with cloth and jewels, in charity to the brāhmaṇas. He also gave them seven hills of grain, covered with jewels and with cloth decorated with golden embroidery. (ŚB 10.5.3)

He gave in charity 20 lakhs (niyuta) of cows. 20 lakh cows, how? Samalankrte (well decorated). 20 lakhs cows are beautifully decorated. Decorated with ornaments, not just cloth, ornaments too. Their horns are gold-plated, their hooves, and like that. Their bells are also made of gold and silver. Nowadays, we hang plastic ones, artificial jewellery. What kind of? Artificial jewellery and we are modern, we are progressing! Yes, there was a time when artificial things, or paper—paper plates, paper this, plastic and paper—people used to spit (seeing) at such things.

When the Rajasuya sacrifice took place in Hastinapura, all the food plates were made of gold and silver, and they were used. Once they became once used or eaten from, they would throw them away. If any of you were there…(laughing) Hari Hari!

Times have changed, means what? Is it good or bad? It is not a progress, it is regress. Steel, like that. In every age or millennium, there is a metal which will have glory or prominence, that is the understanding. In Kali-yuga, which metal? Which metal? Steel, iron. Then we progressed; we made stainless steel. What kind of steel? Stainless steel! Like we have stainless steel, stainless—there will be no stain or blemish on it, stainless steel. It is steel after all.

To the cows, like this, samalankrte dhenunam , and he is giving charity to the brahmanas. Then how many brahmanas would be there! And along with that, you are seeing there, they were not that small. Sesame hills, do you understand? From sesame, sesame, sesame (til)… just as oil is made. Why is oil called tela? Because it comes from tila (sesame). That’s why oil is called oil, it’s made from sesame.

In those days, how much use there was of sesame! For sacrifice, sesame is needed, svaha svaha. Oil is also needed. Sapta adrin.. tilādrīn sapta …Nanda Maharaja made seven hills of sesame, and he covered them too, ambaranavrtan ratna, covered with jewelled clothes before giving them in charity. Cows are also being given in charity, this sesame and gems, etc., are also being given in charity by Nanda Maharaja. The sacrifice is also going on, auspicious chants (svasti-vacana) are happening. Everything is being done according to Vedic regulations. The residents of Braja have arrived, they are reaching.

vrajaḥ sammṛṣṭa-saṁsikta-
dvārājira-gṛhāntaraḥ
citra-dhvaja-patākā-srak-
caila-pallava-toraṇaiḥ
Translation
Vrajapura, the residence of Nanda Mahārāja, was fully decorated with varieties of festoons and flags, and in different places, gates were made with varieties of flower garlands, pieces of cloth, and mango leaves. The courtyards, the gates near the roads, and everything within the rooms of the houses were perfectly swept and washed with water. (ŚB 10.5.6)
Cleaning and sweeping, everything was done in front of their respective houses and Nanda Maharaja’s palace, all welcome gates. Seeing all this, we should prepare for the Janmashtami festival. Festival organizers should see how Nanda Maharaja did it, look at what all he did. Then more cows… here it is going on, by the way-,

dadāti pratigṛhṇāti
guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati
bhuṅkte bhojayate caiva
ṣaḍ-vidhaṁ prīti-lakṣaṇam

Translation
Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one’s mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasāda and offering prasāda are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another. (NOI 4)

These loving exchanges, they are giving gifts, saying some sweet words, speaking, listening, and like that. For Krishna, what is going on? Offering their best wishes, they are felicitating or congratulating. Ayushman bhava (May you live long). Blessing Krishna with Ayushman bhava! Is He going to die? What is the need? Does Krishna need such a blessing. “May you see a hundred autumns”? You will see how many seasons? A hundred. He is going to stay for 125 years, and He is never going to die anyway.

Thus, congratulating. When they come to know, see the expressions, the feelings. From their respective villages, towns, houses, everyone is running towards Gokula.
Perhaps those who don’t know, “what’s the hurry? “Where are you going?”

Then what do they say?
“Don’t you know? Oh brother, to Nanda’s house! We are going to Gokula”. Why?
Nanda ke ghar anand bhayo! Nanda ke ghar anand bhayo! Nanda ke ghar anand bhaya!

Look, so beautiful! Just as mothers are shown, men also, children, old people, everyone is running. They are carrying many gifts, leaves, flowers, or whatever. As Sukadeva Goswami has said, these women, in their hair, they are wearing flowers or garlands of flowers. But they are going so fast, going at a rapid pace. Because of that, many flowers are falling down.
How many! A bed of roses, a bed of whatever, parijata. Sukadeva Goswami wants to draw our attention to this. They weren’t just walking leisurely. If they went leisurely, their flowers would neither shake nor sway, nor fall down. It is said that all the flowers that were in their hair were falling. Why? As they were going fast. Along with that, Sukadeva Goswami is saying that the earrings in their ears were shaking. If they walked leisurely, the earrings would just hang like that, but they are running, that’s why the earrings are shaking. Look at the clothes, the makeup,

tā āśiṣaḥ prayuñjānāś
ciraṁ pāhīti bālake
haridrā-cūrṇa-tailādbhiḥ
siñcantyo ’janam ujjaguḥ

Translation
Offering blessings to the newborn child, Kṛṣṇa, the wives and daughters of the cowherd men said, “May You become the King of Vraja and long maintain all its inhabitants.” They sprinkled a mixture of turmeric powder, oil and water upon the birthless Supreme Lord and offered their prayers. (ŚB 10.5.12)

The bathing ritual, the abhisheka of Krishna is also happening.

avādyanta vicitrāṇi
vāditrāṇi mahotsave
kṛṣṇe viśveśvare ’nante
nandasya vrajam āgate

Translation
Now that the all-pervading, unlimited Lord Kṛṣṇa, the master of the cosmic manifestation, had arrived within the estate of Mahārāja Nanda, various types of musical instruments resounded to celebrate the great festival. (ŚB 10.5.13)

Various musical instruments are playing. Kirtana and dancing are going on, Hari Hari! Nandasya vrajam agate , Coming to Nanda Maharaja’s Braja, everyone is absorbed. What is happening here?

gopāḥ parasparaṁ hṛṣṭā
dadhi-kṣīra-ghṛtāmbubhiḥ
āsiñcanto vilimpanto
navanītaiś ca cikṣipuḥ

Translation
In gladness, the cowherd men enjoyed the great festival by splashing one another’s bodies with a mixture of curd, condensed milk, butter and water. They threw butter on one another and smeared it on one another’s bodies. (ŚB 10.5.14)

Throwing at each other. Just like during Rang Panchami, you throw color with a water gun. Here, rivers of milk and curd are flowing. Ghee also, they are throwing at each other.
As if they are performing abhisheka of each other, making each other happy and pleased, and laughing. When you go to Nanda Bhavan today as well, the whole family of Krishna is there. Nanda, Yashoda, Balarama are also sitting behind, he is elder and in front, Krishna is placed in a cradle. The priests say, “Rock or swing the cradle”. But before putting the string in your hand, the priests say you have to laugh. How will you laugh? (laughing) You are laughing? Are you happy? Be part of this celebration. Charity and religious acts are going on.

nando mahā-manās tebhyo
vāso ’laṅkāra-go-dhanam
sūta-māgadha-vandibhyo
ye ’nye vidyopajīvinaḥ
tais taiḥ kāmair adīnātmā
yathocitam apūjayat
viṣṇor ārādhanārthāya
sva-putrasyodayāya ca

Translation
The great-minded Mahārāja Nanda gave clothing, ornaments and cows in charity to the cowherd men in order to please Lord Viṣṇu, and thus he improved the condition of his own son in all respects. He distributed charity to the sūtas, the māgadhas, the vandīs, and men of all other professions, according to their educational qualifications, and satisfied everyone’s desires. (ŚB 10.5.15-16)

Nanda Maharaja is mahamana (very magnanimous). Mahamana is one name of Nanda Maharaja, of a big, generous heart and intellect, a hero in charity.

śrutim apare smṛtim itare bhāratam anye
bhajantu bhava-bhītāḥ
aham iha nandaṁ vande yasyālinde
paraṁ brahma

Translation
Raghupati Upādhyāya recited, “Those who are afraid of material existence worship the Vedic literature. Some worship smṛti, the corollaries to the Vedic literature, and others worship the Mahābhārata. As far as I am concerned, I worship Kṛṣṇa’s father, Mahārāja Nanda, in whose courtyard the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, is playing.” (CC Madhya 19.96)
This prayer is mentioned in Caitanya-Caritamrita. Someone may do this, someone may do that, someone may do whatever. But we… we will worship them. Whose worship? We offer our obeisances or worships to Nanda Maharaja, nandam vande. In whose courtyard Supreme Brahman is playing. All glories to Nanda Maharaja! We will worship such Nanda Maharaja.
Sub Theme: Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Janmashtami celebrations

Happy Birthday to You, Krishna, You Gopinath!

When Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to live in Jagannātha Puri during caturmasya, He Himself also, on the day of Janmashtami—on this very day—used to celebrate the Janmashtami festival with His countless devotees. Caitanya Mahaprabhu… in that too, cultural events and dance dramas used to take place. Gauranga and Nityananda, Gauranga and Nityananda used to play the roles of Krishna and Balarama. Someone became Nanda and Yashoda. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is taking the dust of Nanda Baba and Yashoda’s feet on His head. In the form of cowherd boys, performing many games or pastimes, they used to entertain all the present devotees. Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, and everyone used to be pleased. Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Janmashtami celebration!

Sub Theme: Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day

Srila Prabhupada’s birth took place on this very day..no.. tomorrow. Tomorrow is what for us? Tomorrow is Nandotsava. Today is Krishna Ashtami, tomorrow is Nandotsava. Srila Prabhupada was born on the day of Nandotsava.

Just the next day. One day Krishna was born, and the very next day, the very next day, the Lord gave birth to Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada told his disciples, told us, that his birth took place on the day of Nandotsava. Therefore in childhood, they used to call him Nandulal, Nandulal, “Come, Nandulal”; as was born on the day of Nanda Maharaja’s Nandotsava. When Prabhupada was going abroad on the Jaladuta boat, one day the Janmashtami festival came.
Prabhupada gathered all the crew members. The captain sitting there, his name was Pandya, Captain Pandya, he called him. It is likely at midnight, in the Jaladuta boat, darkness prevailed everywhere, and at midnight, Prabhupada gathered everyone. He was speaking Krishna-katha, and then distributing Krishna-prasada—no grains, not grain prasada, but fruits, etc. I don’t know from where he got bananas, etc., on the boat…, Prabhupada.

Then later on temples were established and Krishna temples were constructed…. just as it was written in his horoscope: “This child in the future, in his life, will construct 108 temples”. Haribol! Among those temples, by the way, Prabhupada said that there should be a temple in Nagpur. He didn’t build it himself, but Prabhupada did express the desire that there should be a temple in Nagpur. We have to fulfill His desire.

Then gradually hundreds, thousands of temples, and then devotee communities, and Sri Krishna Janmashtami is being celebrated all over the earth. What a beautiful sight! Mother Earth must be so pleased!

anyera hṛdaya mana,
mora mana vṛndāvana,
‘mane’ ‘vane’ eka kari’ jāni
tāhāṅ tomāra pada-dvaya,
karāha yadi udaya,
tabe tomāra pūrṇa kṛpā māani

Translation
Speaking in the mood of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Caitanya Mahāprabhu said, “For most people, the mind and heart are one, but because My mind is never separated from Vṛndāvana, I consider My mind and Vṛndāvana to be one. My mind is already Vṛndāvana, and since You like Vṛndāvana, will You please place Your lotus feet there? I would deem that Your full mercy. (CC Madhya 13.137)

Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to say, mora mana vṛndāvana (My mind is Vrindavana) Mora mana, mora mana vṛndāvana. “O Lord, You like to live in Vrindavana, so come, I will make my heart itself Vrindavana”. That is what we have to do. We have to make our heart Vrindavan, so that in that Vrindavana, in our mind, the Lord will come, appear, and reside; so that the Lord will appear for us too.

This is the sight of the deities at Sri Krishna’s birthplace, Mathura, where Krishna was born.

All glories to Janmabhoomi Mathura!
All glories to the birthplace of Krishna!
This is the temple there in Mathura, the crowd there, and look at the decorations!
Nanda ke ananda bhayo, jaya kanhaiya lala ki, hathi ghoda palki!
Gaur Premanande Hari Haribol!

Japa Talk
Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami maharaj
Date:03-09-2026

Theme: Transcendental nature of Lord Krishna’s appearance
Welcome to all of you on this day of Sri Krishna Janmashtami Mahotsav. Not only here in Nagpur where I am present, but wherever you may be in whichever temples—temple devotees, and then our other devotees, disciples, the congregation in their palaces or homes, wherever you are located. And then the padyatris (foot pilgrims)—they have no fixed place; sometimes on the banks of a river, under a tree, or wherever the Lord keeps them and wherever they are. And the Krishna bandhus (brothers/devotees of Krishna) from all over India, from Kanyakumari to Jammu and Kashmir, wherever you are present, along with all the other devotees who have arrived here—a warm welcome to everyone.

Sub theme: Establishing the Eternal Relationship (Sambandha)

Krishna has not yet appeared; just as the demigods appeared before Him. I was thinking that all of us have also gathered here just like those demigods. And just as the demigods offered prayers to the Lord while He was still in the womb, we too will remember Krishna Kanhaiya Lal, reflect on Him, recite some words of prayer, and surely He is about to arrive. Yashomati Nandana Brajavara Nagara. Actually, it would be wonderful if we sang it as well. Yashomati Nandana… I just wanted to remember Him like this on behalf of all of us together, to offer prayers or to remember the Lord. Yashomati Nandana… What is Yashomati? The son of Yashomati.

Vitthal Maza Maza Mi Vitthalacha|
Translation:
“Vitthal is mine and I belong to Vitthala.”

In Pandharpur, what is maza? Whose is Vitthal? Maza (Mine). They sing, “Mii Vitthalāchā” (I belong to Vitthal). But before asking “Whose am I?”, whose is Vitthal? He is mine. Vitthal is mine and Vitthal is none other than Krishna Himself. So He can certainly belong to Yashoda, to Nanda Baba, to the a cowherd boys of Vrindavan, to the Gopis, to others He belongs to Radha. But amidst all of them, whose is He as well? He is mine too. Just as Srila Prabhupada belongs to everyone, but for me, whose is he first? He is mine. That is why I wrote that book and titled it—Mere Prabhupada. So, Mere Krishna (My Krishna).

Indeed, matters progress only through relationship (sambandha). There are principles or truths like sambandha (relationship), abhidheya (the process to act upon it), and prayojana (the ultimate goal/purpose). The beginning starts with sambandha. And every single living entity has a close and eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord.So then, whose Janmashtami is to be celebrated? My Krishna’s. And who will celebrate it? I will.

Mayā saha ramasva|

O Hari! Take pleasure in me and enjoy with me. When we chant the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra, one of the feelings, prayers, or praises at Krishna’s lotus feet is this: “O Krishna, You enjoy with everyone. You are Radha-Ramana (the enjoyer of Radha), Gopi-Ramana (the enjoyer of the Gopis), or You enjoy with the cowherd boys. Now, enjoy with me too.”
Vithu maza lekurwala
Sange gopalancha mela

Translation:

“My Vitthal is a parent with many children. He is surrounded by a joyful gathering of cowherd friends and devotees.”

Again, in the context of Pandharpur, one is reminded of Vithu Maazhaa Lekurvaalaa (Vitthal, my motherly Lord surrounded by His children). So, while chanting the Mahamantra, we pray Mayaa saha ramasva. The implied meaning here is simple: “O Lord, please reside and enjoy with me; let there be some exchange, some relationship between You and me.”

So Krishna is not just ‘somebody.’ Krishna belongs to all of us—or rather, He belongs to me, to each one of us individually. He is eternally seated in the courtyard of my heart. Is there anyone else in the courtyard of your heart? You might keep a photograph of a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or a friend in your pocket or purse, but in the heart resides only the Supreme Lord. As we move from one body to another, every body has a heart—whether it is an ant or an elephant, it has a heart, and the Lord resides there. Just like this. The Lord never leaves our side- That is Krishna. In Vrindavan, they say: Mero pyaro Vrindavan. What a expression! Saying “my Vrindavan” is one thing, but saying mero pyaro Vrindavan (my beloved Vrindavan) carries such affection! And not just the land, but when the Brajvasis say “Krishna Kanhaiya Lal,” think of the emotion and intimacy behind it.

Sub theme: The Descent of the Lord

Such is Kanhaiya, Yashomati Nandan—the son of Mother Yashoda, forever. He is also called Braj-jana-ranjana, the one who brings transcendental delight to the inhabitants of Braja—not mere material entertainment, but true spiritual joy. Now, my Krishna is about to appear, so make the preparations! In the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the story and pastimes of Krishna’s birth begin right from the first few chapters. These are the very topics that Sukadeva Gosvami narrated to King Pariksit.

yadā yadā hi dharmasya
glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya
tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham

Translation:
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion – at that time I descend Myself.” (BG 4.7)
This statement is from the Bhagavad-gita, and its direct, practical demonstration is found in the Bhagavatam. It describes how, before Krishna’s appearance, religion declined and unrighteousness surged. Mother Earth was deeply distressed by the burden of demonic kings. She approached the demigods, and together they went to the shores of the Milk Ocean to present their grievances to the Supreme Lord.Their appeal was: “O Lord, please appear! We cannot manage what is happening on this earth anymore; it is beyond our control.” When it was no longer within their power, divine intervention became mandatory. The Lord replied: “Tathastu” (So be it). “O demigods, go ahead and take birth in the region of Mathura. I am coming right now.”This is how the Tenth Canto begins, and this discourse will continue for a few hours,

Sub theme: The Divine Mechanism of Appearance

athāham aṁśa-bhāgena
devakyāḥ putratāṁ śubhe
prāpsyāmi tvaṁ yaśodāyāṁ
nanda-patnyāṁ bhaviṣyasi

Translation:
“O all-auspicious Yoga-māyā, I shall then appear with My full six opulences as the son of Devakī, and you will appear as the daughter of mother Yaśodā, the queen of Mahārāja Nanda. At this point, the Lord had not yet appeared on earth; He was still in Goloka Vrindavan.”

(ŚB 10.2.9 )
Goloka eva nivasaty akhilātma-bhūtaḥ [Bs 5.37] -so He is speaking to Yogamaya. O Yogamaya, go ahead; Balarama, the seventh child of Devaki, is in Devaki’s womb. Transfer Him from there into the womb of Rohini, who is currently residing in Gokula. Because Krishna is deeply eager, He says: ‘I also wish to appear. But until that womb becomes vacant, how can I enter? So go, make it vacant, clear it a bit. Then I can enter and I can also finally appear. So Yogamaya fulfilled her duty. Here, while still in Goloka, the Lord speaks to Yogamaya—that when I appear as the son of Yashoda… anyway, He will explain to you. If time permits, Krishna becomes both Devaki-nandan and Yashoda-nandan simultaneously. This event unfolds at midnight.

‘So, I will first appear as the son of Yashoda, and then prapsyami tvam yasodayam nanda-patnyam bhavisyasi—you shall also become her child, her daughter.’ That is why the daughter who was born—whom Vasudeva was to take away—was born in Mathura. She was also born at that time, which is why she is called Krishna-anuja (the younger sister of Krishna). Krishna appeared, and a daughter was also born, so she became Krishna-anuja. Here it is said: nanda-patnyam bhavisyasi—’You will become the daughter of Yashoda, the wife of Nanda.’ It is the day of Ashtami. They needed the night. Slowly, night arrived, and midnight—the time of the Lord’s advent—was approaching. Thirty-three crore demigods arrived. Kamsa’s prison cell—Vasudeva and Devaki were confined in a small, dark cell. They had been imprisoned. Right there in the sky, in the atmosphere, the demigods were seated in their celestial chariots and carriers. Where was Ganesha seated? He arrived riding on a mouse. Yamaraja… and just like Sherawali, Durga Devi arrived! Who came riding on a swan? And who arrived seated on Nandi?

To identify whose temple it is, you look at which vehicle is parked outside. And if Garuda is in front, then it is Vishnu. In that way, we could find out!
So the demigods arrived, each seated in or upon their respective vehicles. Everyone wanted to behold Krishna the moment He appeared—aham purvam, aham purvam (‘Me first! Me first!’). That is why all these vehicles were trying to park so they could get the first darshan. There was quite a traffic jam going on, and a bit of a scramble!

śrī-bhagavān uvāca:
su-durdarśam idaṁ rūpaṁ
dṛṣṭavān asi yan mama
devā apy asya rūpasya
nityaṁ darśana-kāṅkṣiṇaḥ

Translate:
“My dear Arjuna, this form of Mine you are now seeing is very difficult to behold. Even the demigods are ever seeking the opportunity to see this form, which is so dear. ‘I am so beautiful, so incredibly beautiful!’ Even the demigods are always ambitious and eager to behold this form. (Bg. 11.52)

So those demigods, having arrived there, were yearning for His darshan. Before that, while Krishna was still in Devaki’s womb, they offered prayers—prayers that are elaborated in the second chapter of the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam.

yaṁ brahmā varuṇendra-rudra-marutaḥ stunvanti divyaiḥ stavair
vedaiḥ sāṅga-pada-kramopaniṣadair gāyanti yaṁ sāma-gāḥ
dhyānāvasthita-tad-gatena manasa paśyanti yaṁ yoginaḥ
yasyāntaṁ na viduḥ surāsura-gaṇā devāya tasmai namaḥ

Translate:

“Unto that personality whom Brahmā, Varuṇa, Indra, Rudra and the Maruts praise by chanting transcendental hymns and reciting the Vedas with all their corollaries, pada-kramas and Upaniṣads, to whom the chanters of the Sāma Veda always sing, whom the perfected yogīs see within their minds after fixing themselves in trance and absorbing themselves within Him, and whose limit can never be found by any demigod or demon — unto that Supreme Personality of Godhead I offer my humble obeisances.” (SB 12.13.1)

What is Krishna like? All these demigods—only a few are named—came, which is also like a protocol. When a great president or prime minister from another country arrives at the airport, the entire ministry arrives to greet and receive him. Similarly, these demigods are the great ministers and heads of departments of this universe. Whenever the Lord arrives—whether as Rama, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, or Balarama—they arrive. They are doing their duty, and doing it with immense love—far more than just a duty.

Stunvanti divyaih stavaih vedaih sanga-pada-kramopanisadaihs gayanti yam samagah—and what is the Lord like? All the scriptures and Vedic texts sing His praises: Adau madhye ante harih sarvatra giyate (Hari is sung about in the beginning, middle, and end, everywhere). Krishna Kanhaiya Lal ki Jai!

Dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yogino—All yogis desire to behold the Lord within the courtyard of their hearts; pasyanti means they see Him, they long for His darshan. Yasyantam na viduh surasura-gana devaya tasmai namah—even after great effort, neither the demigods nor the demons can fully comprehend Him. Repeated obeisances unto such a Supreme Lord!
At the conclusion of their prayers, the demigods, Take their darshan! Wow! In fact, Vaishnavas are even greater than the demigods. That is your position!
Sub theme: Cosmic Context & The Need for Krishna’s Descent

matsyāśva-kacchapa-nṛsiṁha-varāha-haṁsa-
rājanya-vipra-vibudheṣu kṛtāvatāraḥ
tvaṁ pāsi nas tri-bhuvanaṁ ca yathādhuneśa
bhāraṁ bhuvo hara yadūttama vandanaṁ te

Translation:
O supreme controller, Your Lordship previously accepted incarnations as a fish, a horse, a tortoise, Narasiṁhadeva, a boar, a swan, Lord Rāmacandra, Paraśurāma and, among the demigods, Vāmanadeva, to protect the entire world by Your mercy. Now please protect us again by Your mercy by diminishing the disturbances in this world. O Kṛṣṇa, best of the Yadus, we respectfully offer our obeisances unto You. (SB 10.2.40)

diṣṭyāmba te kukṣi-gataḥ paraḥ pumān
aṁśena sākṣād bhagavān bhavāya naḥ
mābhūd bhayaṁ bhoja-pater mumūrṣor
goptā yadūnāṁ bhavitā tavātmajaḥ

Translation:
O mother Devakī, by your good fortune and ours, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, with all His plenary portions, such as Baladeva, is now within your womb. Therefore you need not fear Kaṁsa, who has decided to be killed by the Lord. Your eternal son, Kṛṣṇa, will be the protector of the entire Yadu dynasty. (SB 10.2.41)

The demigods prayed: ‘O Lord, previously You incarnated in many forms such as Matsya, Asva, Kurma, Nrsimha, Varaha, Hamsa, Rajanya, and Lord Ramachandra. please protect us! O Lord, relieve the burden of this earth! O Supreme Lord, we offer our respectful obeisances and prayers unto You again and again.’Saying this at the end of their prayers, they concluded with one final statement: ‘O Amba!’ (Addressing Devaki: Amba means mother). ‘O Mother Devaki, within your womb has arrived the Supreme Person Himself, the ultimate refuge! He has entered your womb.’ This King of the Bhoja dynasty, Kamsa—this Kamsa desires to die at the hands of the Lord. You have to die, absolutely! So Kamsa is destined to die at the hands of the Lord, and the Lord will surely slay him. Demigods know the past, present, and future (trikalajna). So these all-knowing demigods declared: That day will come; the Lord will slay this Kamsa.And by slaying him, He becomes the protector of the Yadu dynasty. Gopta means protector. The Lord is the protector, and He will protect them.

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Translate:
“To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.” ‘Therefore, O Mother Devaki, ma bhut bhayam—do not fear!’ There is no need for them to fear, nor any need to worry. Krishna has given a guarantee. (Bg. 4.8)

sarva-dharmān parityajya
mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo
mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ

Translate:
“Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.” Do not fear, I am here! Oh dear, come here! Thus, having said what was to happen next and reassuring her not to fear, the demigods paused their prayers. (Bg. 18.66).

Now, it is Sukadeva Gosvami who is narrating this entire chronicle. Mother Earth, who had assumed the form of a cow, had earlier approached the demigods and presented her distress and troubles before them. Mother Earth has a name, Bharat Mata, as in Vande Mataram, which not everyone accepts. Vande Mataram means “I bow to the Mother.” Whom do I bow to? to Mother India, to Mother Earth, who is the mother of us all. In our culture and faith, there are seven types of mothers, and among them, a primary mother is Mother Earth. She is the one who feeds us!

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ
yo me bhaktyā prayacchati
tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam
aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ

Translate:
“If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.” (Bg. 9.26)

annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ

Translate:

“All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajña [sacrifice], and yajña is born of prescribed duties.” (Bg.3.14)
All these fruits and foods everything comes from Mother Earth. The Lord and Mother Earth nourish their children.She gives grain, and that is how we live. So our nurturer is Mother Earth.Now that she knows the Lord is appearing

śrī-śuka uvāca
atha sarva-guṇopetaḥ
kālaḥ parama-śobhanaḥ
yarhy evājana-janmarkṣaṁ
śāntarkṣa-graha-tārakam
diśaḥ prasedur gaganaṁ
nirmaloḍu-gaṇodayam
mahī maṅgala-bhūyiṣṭha-
pura-grāma-vrajākarā

Translation
Thereafter, at the auspicious time for the appearance of the Lord, the entire universe was surcharged with all the qualities of goodness, beauty and peace. The constellation Rohiṇī appeared, as did stars like Aśvinī. The sun, the moon and the other stars and planets were very peaceful. All directions appeared extremely pleasing, and the beautiful stars twinkled in the cloudless sky. Decorated with towns, villages, mines and pasturing grounds, the earth seemed all-auspicious. (SB 10.3.1-2)

mumucur munayo devāḥ
sumanāṁsi mudānvitāḥ
mandaṁ mandaṁ jaladharā
jagarjur anusāgaram

Translation

The demigods and great saintly persons showered flowers in a joyous mood, and clouds gathered in the sky and very mildly thundered, making sounds like those of the ocean’s waves. Then the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who is situated in the core of everyone’s heart, appeared from the heart of Devakī in the dense darkness of night, like the full moon rising on the eastern horizon, because Devakī was of the same category as Śrī Kṛṣṇa. (SB 10.3.7)

Mother Earth made splendid preparations to welcome Krishna! She adorned herself completely. Look around these days; everything is covered in greenery, as if Mother Earth is wearing a green sari! And all the colorful flowers blooming- They are like the embroidery on that sari! All directions are welcoming Him. A gentle, fragrant breeze is blowing. In the month of Sravana, the wind makes noise, but now Bhadrapada has arrived. In Bhadrapada, the breeze is cool and pleasant. It is a wonderful season—part of the rainy season—with neither the intense heat of summer nor the biting cold of winter. As Shukadeva Gosvami described, a cool, fragrant, and pleasing breeze is blowing. The rivers are full of water due to the rainy season. In some places, there are floods—even in Nepal right now there are severe floods, don’t even ask! Rainfall is happening. Just as we are experiencing these climatic conditions today, it was very similar the clouds gently rumble, and waves in the ocean reverberate with sound. Similarly, there is gentle thundering in the sky, but no severe storms or tempests; everything is serene and peaceful.Slowly, time moves toward midnight. As the saying goes, “Time and tide wait for none.” Does time stop for anyone? No, no way! Can anyone stop the waves of the ocean? Time and tide wait for no one. “So, the demigods offered their prayers, but the Lord still did not appear. It became 11:00 PM, then 11:30, then 11:45, yet He did not appear. People were probably looking at their watches.

There is a sweet understanding that the Lord was doing His calculations. He was thinking: ‘I am taking birth in the Moon dynasty (Chandravamsha). Rama belonged to the Sun dynasty (Suryavamsha), but I belong to the Moon dynasty. The dynasty in which I am appearing—tonight is the night of Ashtami. The moon of the Moon dynasty rises at midnight. This is nothing new; every Ashtami of the Krishna Paksha (dark fortnight), the moon rises at midnight. (During Shukla Paksha, it rises at mid-day when neither the sun nor moon is clearly visible in the day). But every Krishna Paksha Ashtami, the moon rises at midnight.’ So Krishna thought: ‘He is the moon, and I am Krishna-chandra—I am also a moon! But I cannot appear before the founder of the dynasty in which I am taking birth appears. Let him rise first, and then I will appear just a few minutes later.’ That is exactly what happened at midnight. Krishna took birth. And the moon that rose in the sky also had darshan. Krishna’s. Krishna is like- Purnendu sundara mukhat—His face is as beautiful as the full moon. When the moon looked at Him, he see—His face was as radiant as a full moon. The moon thought: ‘Am I looking at myself? Is this my reflection?’ Purnendu indu means moon; Purnendu means the full moon.

Now, on Ashtami, the moon in the sky is only a half-moon. On Amavasya (new moon), there is no moon, and it gradually grows until Ashtami, when it becomes a half-moon. It becomes a full moon only on Purnima. So here we are talking about Ashtami. Listen with your eyes open! Eyes aren’t meant for hearing, but when eyes close, ears close too—there is a connection! When the moon beheld Krishna, it was like seeing a full moon. Realizing that Krishna-chandra was appearing in his own dynasty, the moon became overjoyed. His heart filled with supreme joy. At the same time, his face, which was somewhat incomplete as a half-moon, suddenly shone as a full moon! Such an event occurred only once in the history of the universe—a full moon appearing at midnight on Ashtami! So there were two moons: Krishna-chandra and the celestial moon.

Sub theme: Darshan of the Four-Armed Form (Adbhutam Balakam)

tam adbhutaṁ bālakam ambujekṣaṇaṁ
catur-bhujaṁ śaṅkha-gadādy-udāyudham
śrīvatsa-lakṣmaṁ gala-śobhi-kaustubhaṁ
pītāmbaraṁ sāndra-payoda-saubhagam
mahārha-vaidūrya-kirīṭa-kuṇḍala-
tviṣā pariṣvakta-sahasra-kuntalam
uddāma-kāñcy-aṅgada-kaṅkaṇādibhir
virocamānaṁ vasudeva aikṣata

Translate:
“Vasudeva then saw the newborn child, who had very wonderful lotuslike eyes and who bore in His four hands the four weapons śaṅkha, cakra, gadā and padma. On His chest was the mark of Śrīvatsa and on His neck the brilliant Kaustubha gem. Dressed in yellow, His body blackish like a dense cloud, His scattered hair fully grown, and His helmet and earrings sparkling uncommonly with the valuable gem Vaidūrya, the child, decorated with a brilliant belt, armlets, bangles and other ornaments, appeared very wonderful.” (SB 10.3.9-10)

So now Krishna appeared. He did not take birth in the ordinary sense. Last night we were discussing that the Lord’s pastimes are of two kinds: Prakata-lila (manifest pastimes) and Aprakata-lila (unmanifest pastimes). Aprakata-lila is also called Nitya-lila (eternal pastimes). In Vrindavan, in Goloka, in Gokula, His eternal pastimes go on continuously. Whenever such a situation arises—a decline in righteousness and a rise in unrighteousness—He says: ‘I manifest Myself.’ He is already present behind the curtain, and then He manifests. ‘I existed before, and I exist after manifesting. My manifest pastime continues on Earth for 125 years.’ (Lord Rama manifested His pastimes for 11,000 years, And Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu remained on this earth for 48 years).This is called Prakata-lila. Some incarnations come for a very short duration—Lord Nrsimhadeva did not stay for long. Every incarnation has a different duration for their manifest pastimes.

Krishna becomes the son of Vasudeva and Devaki. But can anyone give birth to the Supreme Lord? He who gives birth to everyone, the source of all—Govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami – BS. This is the definition of God in Brahma’s words: Govinda is the original person. the Lord is the origin of everyone, but He has no origin. He is the source of all, but no one is His source. That is why the Lord says:

janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna

Translate:
“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” ‘My birth and My activities are divine.’ They are transcendental, not worldly. (BG 4.9)

Our parents give birth to our material bodies through the union of male and female. The embryo forms and develops over 10 months and 10 days into a full body. But it is not like that for the Lord! Sukhadeva Gosvami that the Lord did not enter through ordinary physical means. He first appeared within the heart of Vasudeva, then in the heart of Devaki not in the womb through material union. From the heart, for the sake of His pastimes, He was transferred to the womb of Devaki, where He resided and enacted His pastimes before finally appearing.No one have the power to give birth to lord.

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin
nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

Translate:
“For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.” (BG 2.20)

This can also be easily understood in these terms: our parents give birth to our physical body, but do they give birth to the soul, The soul already exists! The soul simply enters the body. By the Lord’s will during conception, a soul enters the womb. Birth happens, the body lives in a certain species, death occurs, and then The soul leaves that body and enters another body—dehantara (transmigration of the soul). Just as there is relocation to another country (deshantara), there is transmigration to another body (dehantara). Parents do not create the soul— (the soul is never born nor does it die).The same applies to the Supreme Soul (Paramatma). The Supreme Lord is eternal. Vasudeva, Devaki, Kausalya, Dasharatha, Sachi Mata, and Jagannath Mishra play the roles of parents in His pastimes, but they do not create God. The Lord simply manifests through them in that pastime. This is why Krishna Janmashtami must be understood in truth (tattvata). This is an effort to explain that philosophical truth based on the Vedic scriptures.

Sub theme: Reliving the Lila through Shastra-Cakshu (Hearing with Ears as Seeing)

And at the end, Sukadeva Gosvami is narrating the chronicle, and he says Vasudeva aikshata—meaning ‘Vasudeva saw.’ Vasudeva had His darshan. When a child is born, doesn’t the mother see the child? Those present see first. There were Vasudeva and Devaki present. But the very first person to behold the Supreme Lord in that form was Vasudeva. That is why Sukadeva Gosvami specifically says Vasudeva aikshata. Vasudeva saw Him, and Sukadeva Gosvami describes Him here exactly as He appeared. Srila Vyasadeva also must have envisioned it, which is why he authored the Bhagavatam as an empowered incarnation (shaktavesha avatara). (Just as during the conversation between Arjuna and Krishna at Kurukshetra, Sanjaya saw it through spiritual vision. Vyasadeva, through divine grace, heard and wrote the Bhagavad-gita exactly as it was spoken: Sri Bhagavan uvacha, Arjuna uvacha).

vyāsa-prasādāc chrutavān
etad guhyam ahaṁ param
yogaṁ yogeśvarāt kṛṣṇāt
sākṣāt kathayataḥ svayam

Translate:
“By the mercy of Vyāsa, I have heard these most confidential talks directly from the master of all mysticism, Kṛṣṇa, who was speaking personally to Arjuna.” (Bg. 18.75 )
Similarly, Sukhadeva Gosvami was not physically present in the prison cell when the child appeared, but he experienced it through realization and divine vision. He described it in the Bhagavatam and taught it to his disciples, and later narrated it to King Pariksit.

First, Adbhutam balakam—an extraordinary, amazing child! His eyes were ambuja—lotus-like, Chaturbhujam—four-armed, manifesting thus in Mathura, bore special marks: Srivatsa-laksmam—on the left side of His chest, He has a curl of golden hair called Srivatsa, which is the abode of Goddess Lakshmi. Vasudeva and Vyasadeva saw this, Around His neck was the Kanthi Kaustubha gem—Gala-sobhi-kaustubham. (When the ocean was churned and various gems emerged, the eighth gem was Goddess Lakshmi, as mentioned in [Bhagavatam 8.8.8]. When Lakshmi appeared, she chose Lord Narayana. The Kaustubha gem was also offered to Lord Vishnu/Krishna).

He wore Pitambaram—yellow garments, complexion was Sandra-payoda-saubhagam—like a dark monsoon cloud (Ghanashyama). He wore a crown, earrings, and had Varisvak-sahasra-kuntalam—thousands of long, thick, dark, curly locks of hair. He appeared fully clothed and adorned with ornaments—armlets, bangles, and sacred garments!

Does a normal child take birth like this? Have any of you taken birth like this—appearing fully dressed, with jewelry and full locks of long hair? Usually, a newborn’s head is shaved or has very little hair. Mother Devaki didn’t go shopping in the market for matching clothes and ornaments! Where could she go in a prison cell anyway?

With all these ornaments, garments, and supreme beauty, He was present in the womb—having passed from Vasudeva’s heart into Devaki’s womb—and He appeared exactly as He eternally is. That is what an avatara (descent) means. It is like someone living on the 10th floor coming down via the elevator to the ground floor; they remain the exact same person. Krishna appears in this world exactly as He is in His eternal abode. So Krishna appeared on the night of Ashtami. Vasudeva aikshata—Vasudeva saw Him, and now we too are beholding Him through the eyes of scripture (shastra-chakshusa).

When we read and hear this eye-witness description of Krishna’s beauty and ornaments recorded by Vyasadeva and narrated by Sukadeva Gosvami, the time gap of 5,253 years vanishes! When we read and hear with devotion, it is as if we are observing these events in the present moment. In relation to Krishna, everything is eternal; time has no limiting effect. It is always the present tense.You did not hear the Bhagavad-gita 5,000 years ago, but you can hear it now. Srila Prabhupada says: Arjuna heard it then; you hear it now. There is no difference between Arjuna hearing it and our hearing it. Likewise, Vasudeva saw Krishna then, and now we are beholding and hearing about the merciful Lord today. It is the very same experience.
Gaur Premanande! Hari Hari Bol!”