++
51

Sucaru's wife is Tulavati-devi, the daughter of Sumukha's brother-in-law Gola. Tundu, Kutera, Purata and others are the comtemporary associates of Krsna's parental grandfather.

52

Kila, Antakela, Tilata, Krpita, Purata, Gonda, Kallota, Karanda, Tarisana, Varisana, Viraroha and Vararoha are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's maternal grandfather.

53

The elderly ladies Silabheri, Sikhambara, Bharuni, Bhangur, Bhangi, Bharasakha and Sikha are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's parental grandmother.

54 - 55

Bharunda, Jatila, Bhela, Karala, Karabalika, Gharghara, Mukhara, Ghora, Ghanta, Ghoni, Sughantika, Dhvankarunti, Handi, Tundi, Dingima, Manjuranika, Cakkini, Condika, Cundi, Dindima, Pundavanika, Damani, Damari, Dambi and Danka are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's maternal grandmother.

56 - 58

Mangala, Pingala, Pinga, Mathura, Pitha, Pattisa, Sankara, Sangara, Bhrngaq, Ghrni, Ghatika, Saragha, Pathira, Dandi, Kedara, Saurabheya, Kala, Ankura, Dhurina, Dhurva, Cakranga, Maskara, Utpala, Kambala, Supaksa, Saudha, Harita, Harikesa, Hara and Upananda are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's father, Nanda Maharaja.

59

Having taken a vow of friendship in their youth, Parjanya and Sumukha always remain the best of friends. Nanda Maharaja and many other of the cowherds are descended from their families.

60 - 62

Vatsala, Kusala, Tali, Medura, Masrna, Krpa, Sankini, Bimbini, Mitra, Subhaga, Bhogini, Prabha, Sarika Hingula, Niti, Kapila, Dhamanidhara, Paksati, Pataka, Pundi, Sutunda, Tusti, Anjana, Tarangaksi, Taralika, Subhada, Malika, Angada, Visala, Sallaki, Vena and Vartika are among the contemporary associates of Krsna's mother, Yasoda-devi.

63

Ambika and Kilimba are the two nurses who fed Krsna with their breast milk. Of the two, Ambika, the dear friend of Vraja's queen, is the most important.

64 -65

The Brahmanas

Two groups of brahmanas reside in Gokula: those maintained by Nanda Maharaja and those who are priests engaged in the performance of Vedic sacrifices. Among the priests, Vedagarbha, Mahayajva and Bhaguri are prominent. Their respective wives are Samadheni, Mahakavya and Vedika.

66

Sulabha, Gautami, Gargi, Candila, Kubjika, Vamani, Svaha, Sulata, Sandili, Svadha and Bhargavi are the most important of the brahmana ladies respectfully worshiped by the residents of Vraja.

67 - 69

Full of transcendental opulences, Paurnamasi-devi is the incarnation of the Lord's Yogamaya potency. She makes the arrangements of Lord Krsna's pastimes to be properly performed. She is slightly tall in stature and has a fair complexion. Her hair is the color of kasa flowers and she wears red garments. She is greatly respected by Nanda Maharaja and all the other residents of Vrajabhumi. She was the dear student of Devarsi Narada and on his advice she left her favorite son, Sandipani Muni, in Avantipura and came to Gokula, impelled by great love for her worshipable Lord Krsna.

70

Krsna's associates may be divided into two groups: gopis and gopas. The gopis may be divided into three groups: 1. Gopi friends of the same age as Krsna, 2. maidservants and 3. gopi messengers.

71 - 72

Learned scholars have also divided Lord Krsna's associates into the following nine categories: 1. yutha, 2. kula, 3. mandala, 4. varga, 5. gana, 6. samavaya, 7. sancaya, 8. samaja, 9. and samanvaya.

73 - 75

Krsna's Gopi Friends:

Of the three kinds of gopi associates of the Lord of the three kinds of gopi associates of the Lord mentioned in text 70, the first group, Krsna's contemporary gopi friends, are the most exalted, the second group, the maidservants are the next most exalted, and the gopi messengers come after them. These three groups correspond to the groups mentioned as samaja, mandala and gana respectively (in texts 71 - 72). The first group, Krsna's contemporary gopi friends, may be further divided into varistha (the most exalted ) and vara (exalted).

76

Varistha (The Most Exalted Gopis)

The varistha gopis are more famous than all the others. They are eternally the intimate friends of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. No one can equal or exceed the love they bear for the divine couple.

77

Of all Krsna's friends, the varistha gopis are the most worshipable. They are decorated with incomparable transcendental qualities, bodily beauty and all other charming opulences.

78

Krsna's Gopi Friends

Lalita, Visakha, Citra, Campakamallika, Tungavidya, Indulekha, Rangadevi and Sudevi are the most intimate of Lord Krsna's gopi friends.

79

Lalita

Of these eight gopis, the first one, Lalita-devi, is the best. She is a dear friend of the divine couple and she is 27 years old, the eldest of Krsna's gopi friends.

80

Lalita is famous as Srimati Radharani's constant companion and follower. Lalita is contrary and hot-tempered by nature. Her complexion is like the yellow pigment gorocana and her garments are like peacock feathers.

81

Her mother is Saradi-devi and her father is Visoka. Her husband is named Bhairava. He is a close friend of Govardhana-gopa.

82 - 83

Visakha

Visakha is the second most important of these eight varistha-gopis. Her attributes, activities and resolve are all muck like those of her friend Lalita. Visakha was born at the exact same moment as her dear friend Srimati Radharani appeared in this world. Visakha's garments are decorated with stars and her complexion is like lightning. Her father is Pavana, the son of the sister of Mukhara-gopi and her mother is Daksina-devi, the daughter of the sister of Jatila. Her husband is Vahika-gopa.

84

Campakalata

Campakalata is the third of the varistha-gopis. Her complexion is the color of a blossoming yellow campaka flower and her garments are the color of a blue-jay's feature. She is one day younger than Srimati Radharani.

85

Her husband is Arama, her mother is Vatika-devi and her husband is Candaksa. Her qualities are much like those of Visakha.

86

Citra

Citra is the fourth of the varistha gopis. Her fair complexion resembles the color of kunkuma and her garments are the color of crystal. She is 26 days younger than Srimati Radharani. When Lord Madhava is full of blis, she becomes satisfied.

87

Her father is Catura, the paternal uncle of Suryamitra. Her mother is Carcika-devi. Her husband is Pithara.

88

Tungavidya

Tungavidya is the fifth of the varistha gopis. Her complexion is the color of kunkuma and the fragrance of her body is like sandalwood mixed with camphor. She is fifteen days younger than Srimati Radharani

89

Tungavidya is hot-tempered and expert at dissimulation. She wears white garments. Her parents are Puskara and Medha-devi and her husband is Balisa.

90

Indulekha

Indulekha is the sixth of the varistha gopis. She has a tan complexion and wears garments the color of a pomegranate flower. She is three days younger than Srimati Radharani.

91

Her parents are Sagara and Vela-devi and her husband is Durbala. She is contrary and hot-tempered by nature.

92

Rangadevi

Rangadevi is the seventh of the varistha gopis. Her complexion is the color of a lotus filament and her garments are the color of a red rose. She is seven days younger than Srimati Radharani.

93

Her personal qualities are much like those of Campakalata. Her parents are Karuna-devi and Rangasara.

94

Sudevi

Sudevi is the eighth of the varistha gopis. She is sweet and charming by nature. She is the sister of Rangadevi. Her husband is Vakreksana, the younger brother of Bhairava.

95

Her marriage with Vakreksana was arranged by his younger brother. Her form and other qualities are so similar to those of her sister Rangadevi that they are often mistaken for one another.

96 - 97

The Vara-Gopis

Just as there are eight varistha (most exalted) gopis, the same way there are also eight vara (exalted) gopis. The vara-gopis are all teenage girls. Their names are Kalavati, Subhangada, Hiranyangi, Ratnalekha, Sikhavati, Kandarpa manjari, Phullakalika and Ananga manjari

98

Kalavati's parents are Sindhumati-devi and Kalankura-gopa, the maternal uncle of Arkamitra.

99

Her complexion is the color of yellow sandalwood and she wears garments the color of a parrot. Her husband is Kapota, the youngest brother of Vahika.

100

Subhangada

Subhangada is the younger sister of Visakha. She is a very fair complexion and is married to Patatri, the younger brother of Pithara.

101

Hiranyangi

Hiranyangi's complexion is the color of gold and she appears to be a temple or palace in which all beauty is conserved. She was born from the womb of Harini-devi.

102

Mahavasu-gopa is pious, famous and devoted to performing Vedic sacrifices. He is decorated with wonderful good qualities and he is the close friend of Arkamitra.

103

Mahavasu-gopa desired to beget a powerful and heroic son and a beautiful daughter. To attain this end the self-controlled Mahavasu engaged Bhaguri Muni in performing a Vedic sacrifice.

104

Certain nectarean foodstuffs appeared from that sacrifice and the delighted Mahavasu gave them to his wife, Sucandra-devi.

105 - 106

As Sucandra-devi was hastily eating the sacred foodstuff on her front porch, she spilled some of it. At that time the doe named Suranga, who was the mother of the doe named Rangini, was wandering in Vrajabhumi. Seeing Sucandra-devi spill some of the foodstuff, the doe Suranga quickly came forward and ate some of it. As a result of eating this sacred foodstuff, both the gopi Sucandra and the doe Suranga became pregnant.

107

Sucandra-devi gave birth to a son whom the gopas called Stokakrsna and the deer gave birth to the girl Hiranyangi in the village of Vraja.

108

Hiranyangi is very dear to Srimati Radharani and Srimati Radharani is very dear to her. Hiranyangi is dressed in beautiful garments that appear like a great multitude of unparalleled blossoming flowers.

109

With great respect the father Mahavasu then promised the exalted Hiranyangi in marriage to an elderly gopa who was completely unfit to become her husband.

110 - 111

Ratnalekha

Maharaj Vrsabhanu's maternal cousin Payonidhi had a son but no daughter. His wife Mitra-devi desired to have a daughter also and to achieve this end she faithfully worshiped the sun-god, Vivasvan. By Vivasvan's mercy she gave birth to a daughter who was named Ratnalekha.

112

Ratnalekha's complexion is the red color of the mineral manahsila and her garments appear like a beautiful swarm of bumblebees. She is very dear to Srimati Radharani, the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu. Her mother engages both her and her friend Radharani in the devoted attentive worship of the sun-god. When Ratnalekha sees Lord Madhava, her eyes begin to roll in ferocious anger and she severly rebukes Him.

113

Sikhavati

Sikhavati's father is Dhanyadhanya and her mother is Susikha-devi. Sikhavati's complexion is the color of a karnikara flower. She is the younger sister of Kundalatika.

114

She is like sweetness and charm personified. Her garments are the spotted color of an old francoline partridge. She is married to Garjara-gopa, who is also known as Garuda-gopa.

115 - 116

Kandarpa-manjari

Kandarpa-manjari's father is Puspakara and her mother is Kuruvinda-devi. Kandarpa-manjari's father did not give her marriage to anyone, for he considered in his heart that Lord Hari is the only suitable husband for his daughter. Kandarpa-manjari's complexion is the color of a kinkirata bird and her garments are decorated with many different colors.

117

Phullakalika

Phullakalika's father is Srimalla and her mother is Kamalini. Phullakalika's complexion is dark like a blue lotus flower and her garments are like a rainbow.

118

Her forehead is naturally marked with yellow tilaka lines. Her husband, Vidura has a loud voice and is able to call the buffaloes from a great distance.

119

Ananga-manjari

Ananga-manjari is exquistely beautiful and therefore it is very appropriate that she is named after Ananga (cupid). Her complexion is the color of a springtime ketaki flower and her garments are the color of a blue lotus.

120

Her proud husband Durmada is also her sister's brother-in-law. She is especially dear to Lalita and Visakha.