PASTIMES IN THE EARLY MORNING

PASTIMES IN THE EARLY MORNING
Sanat-kumāra Samhitā 36.202-219
The Sanat-kumār Samhitā is an ancient literature that is quoted by many of our ācāryas. Today only chapters thirty-six and fifty-five are known to exist. Chapter fifty-five narrates Krishna’s replies to Rukmini Devi when she asked Him to describe His Vrindavan pastimes. Chapter thirty-six consists of a conversation between Narada Muni and Lord Sadashiva dis-cussing concern for the suffering of the living entities in Kali Yuga, meditation on Krishna, the process of worship of the Lord’s eternal associates, and bhajan in servitorship. At the end of the chapter, Vrinda Devidescribes Krishna’s daily pastimes.
Vrinda Devi spoke as follows: “Wakened by His mother in the early morning, Krishna rises from bed. He and Balaram brush Their teeth, and with His mother’s permission, Krishna eagerly goes to the cowshed to milk the cows.
“Wakened by Her gopī companions, Sri Radha also rises from Her bed. She brushes Her teeth with a twig and Her sakhīs massage Her with fragrant oils. Then She goes to the bathing-room where Lalita and other gopīs give Her a divine bath. Next, She enters the decorating-room, where Her friends adorn Her with garlands, scents, oils, and many glittering ornaments. Then, after first taking permission from Radha’s mother-in-law, Yasoda calls Radha and Herfriends to cook breakfast for Krishna.”
Hearing this, Narada Muni asked, “O goddess, why does Yasoda call Radha to cook when Rohini and so many other expert cooksare present in her home?”
Vrinda Devi replied, “The great sageDurvasa gave Radha a boon that She wouldbe the best of cooks. This I heard from themouth of Katyayani:
tvayā yat pacyate devi tad-anna_ mad-anugrahātmi__a_ svādv-ām_ta-spardhi bhoktur āyu_-kara_ tathā
[Durvasa said to Radha:] O goddess, by my mercy, whatever You cook will be more deliciousthan the nectar of the gods. It will increase thelife of whoever eats it. (Text 209)
“Thus Yasoda calls Radha to cook every day. Yasoda thinks, ’Eager to eat this delicious food, my son will live a very long life.’
“Receiving permission from Her mother-in-law, Radha becomes very happy. Accompanied by a host of friends, She goes to Krishna’s home to cook.
“Meanwhile, Krishna milked some cows and had some other boys milk the others. Then, called by His father, He and His friends return home. There the servants happily massage Krishna, bathe Him, dress Him in clean garments, gar-land Him, and anoint His body with sandal wood paste. Decorating His forehead and cascading down onto His neck and shoulders, Krishna’s curling black hair shines brilliantly. The servants make the moon of His forehead splendid with tilaka. Krishna wears jeweled armlets and brace-lets on His wrists and His hands are adorned with jeweled rings. He wears a brilliant pearl necklace across His chest and dazzling shark-shaped earrings dangle from His ears.
“Called again and again by His mother, holding the hand of one of His friends, Krishna follows Balaram into the breakfast-room. There, seated with His friends, He eats a breakfast feast of many different kinds of foodstuffs. He makes many jokes with His friends, and they all laugh together. The servants bring betelnuts. After sharing them with His friends and chewing some Himself, Krishna rests for a moment on a splendid bed.
“While Krishna enjoys His pastime of eating breakfast, Radha watches. Afterwards,when Yasoda calls, Radha, accompanied by Lalita and other gopī friends, shyly have Their breakfast.” _
— Sanat-kumāra Sa_hitā. English translation by Sri Kusakratha Das. TheKrishna Library. Culver City, California.
— Sanat-kumāra Sa_hitā. Published by Sri Haridas Sastri. Vrindavan.1997. Sanskrit

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