Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 10.15.2
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesMādhava Brings Joy to Vṛndāvana
“Thus desiring to enjoy pastimes, Lord Mādhava, sounding His flute, surrounded by cowherd boys who were chanting His glories, and accompanied by Lord Baladeva, kept the cows before Him and entered the Vṛndāvana forest, which was full of flowers and rich with nourishment for the animals.”
What the purport teaches
- The name Mādhava identifies Kṛṣṇa as the consort of Lakṣmī and as one who descended in the dynasty of Madhu. It also points to His enjoyment of conjugal love.
- Since spring is also called Mādhava, Kṛṣṇa’s entrance made the forest display all the opulences of spring, with flowers, breezes and a celestial atmosphere.
- Kṛṣṇa’s flute gave inconceivable bliss to the residents of Vraja-dhāma. Entering the forest and playing His flute were daily pastimes in spiritual Vṛndāvana.
Try this today
Read the translation aloud once, joining the cowherd boys in remembering Kṛṣṇa’s glories.
Ask yourself
How might remembering Mādhava’s pastimes deepen my joy in glorifying Him?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.