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and then only that they could expect a continuity of the union, 'it
was not for themselves only that they had any further right. Hut
the Gopis now cared not for themselves. They cared for their Lord,
whom they now knew and realised to be the Lord of the Universe.
And lo! the Lord appeared again. Tin's time there was union
but not individual union. Hand in hand, the Gopis formed a circle
with their Lord, not the individual Lord, but the universal Lord
making Himself many. Every Gopi held the hands of the Lord
and all the Gopis collectively formed one circle, and the circle went
on dancing and dancing. The Devas looked with wonder and envied
the lot of the Gopis. Let that wonder grow amongst us. Let us
catch a glimpse of that divine dance, that Rasa Lila, that men may
become gods on the Earth.
Sudarsana, Sankha Ckuda, Arishta, Kesi and Vyoma.
The Vidyadharas and Yakshas were controlled and other
obstacles overcome. Even the barrier of Akasa, which forms the
final limit of actions and wisdom in the universe, was pushed through.
Work was now over at Vrindavana. The Bhaktas were now fitted
to pass across the limits of Brahmanda to Goloka.
Aktuta. With the advent of Akrura, we move backwards from
the heart to the head, from the world of Bhaktas to the world
at large. When Kansa presided over Mathura, men were guided
by Self in their thoughts and actions. Jarasandha, who represented
the Brahmanism of self-seeking Yajnas, was the friend of Kansa.
Akrura was the messenger selected by Kansa to fetch Rama
and Krishna from Vrindavana. Ktdra is cruel. Akrura is one who
is not cruel. It was not cruelty on the part of Akrura to take Rama
and Krishna to Mathura. He was no doubt seemingly cruel to the
Gopis. But he was kind to the generality of mankind, who did not
live in Vrindavana.
The Gopis, followers of the path of Devotion, could not bear the
sight of him and they called him a mock Rishi. But he was really a
Bhakta himself, though he adhered to Vedic Karma. He performed
the Vedic Sandhya and recited Vedic Mantras; he was rewarded
with the vision of Rama and Krishna in meditation.
This votary of Karma Kanda was a fitting messenger from
Kansa. He united in himself the spirituality of Karma KAnda and
the unselfishness of the path of Devotion.
40
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