May Krishna’s uncle Upananda, who delights his nephew with billions of life-airs, whose face is beautified by a white moustache, who has a blackish complexion, who is a wise and learned counsellor, who lives in the village of Sāhāra and who always stays in the government of the king of Vraja as a learned scholar, always protect the land of Vraja!
bhijïaḥ saṁsadi santataṁ vrajapateḥ kurvan sthitiṁ yo’rcitaḥ
sva prāṇārbuda khaṇḍanair murabhidaṁ bhrātuḥ sutaṁ toñayet
sāhāre nivasan sa goṣṭham avatān nāmnopanandaḥ sadā
May Krishna’s uncle Upananda, who delights his nephew with billions of life-airs, whose face is beautified by a white moustache, who has a blackish complexion, who is a wise and learned counsellor, who lives in the village of Sāhāra and who always stays in the government of the king of Vraja as a learned scholar, always protect the land of Vraja!
Stavāmṛta Kaṇā Vyākhyā: In this verse Raghunath Goswamipada praises Sri Upananda, the elder brother and minister of Nanda Mahārāja.
pitṛvyau tu kanīyāṁsau syātāṁ sannanda nandanau
Nanda’s elder brothers are Upananda and Abhinanda, and his younger brothers are Sannanda and Nandana. (Radha-Kṛṣṇa-gaṇoddeśa-dīpikā 1.32)
They are all Krishna’s uncles. Upananda was the oldest son of Parjanya Mahārāja, and the third son Nanda inherited the kingdom only because of Upananda’s magnanimity. In the Gopāla Campū it is described that when Parjanya Maharaj considered the qualifications of his sons he first decided to hand over the responsibility of the kingdom to his eldest son Upananda. He had become eager to engage in Hari bhajan and had thus attained peace of mind. he had the royal class, headed by Vasudeva, and the brahminical class, headed by Garga, called into the assembly and gave his oldest son Sri Upananda the royal tilak there. It is described as follows:
Sri Upananda kept the order of his father on his head (followed it), considering himself blessed. Then, in the presence of Vasudeva and other great souls he called his younger, middle brother Nanda into the assembly, lovingly embraced him and gave him the kingdom of Gokula by giving him the royal tilak. Then he honoured him as the new king of Gokula.
Seeing this inconceivable behaviour of his elder brother, Nanda Maharaj became shy, those present in the assembly were struck with wonder and father Parjanya looked at the two men with eyes wide with bliss. [Actually, Parjanya had been desirous to give the kingdom to Nanda, having seen his countless attributes, but he had thought it better just to follow the etiquette and give the kingdom to his oldest son.]
Seeing this Sri Upananda said: “This is not a thoughtless action of mine, because everyone is controlled by feelings of affection. The proper thing was done, considering Nanda’s glorious attributes. It was not a whimsical action on my behalf; the great qualities of Nanda just have an overwhelming, all-controlling effect. Besides, this is the arrangement of Sri Narayan, the Overseer of all living beings. This is because everyone’s bee-like eyes drink the honey of Sri Nanda’s beautiful lotus-like face. Sri Narayan made this decision long ago. Also, his name is Nanda, while my name is Upananda (“sub-Nanda”). Upa means inferior and assisting. Hence he should be the king of Gokula, and I should serve as his assistant.”
Hearing these words of Upananda the demigods showered flowers from the sky and sang sādhu sādhu (“well done! well done!). The lotus-like eyes of everyone present began to blossom and the auspicious sounds of jaya jaya! filled the universe. From that day on Nanda, the mine of all great qualities, was the king of Gokula, and Upananda was appointed his minister. (Gopāla Campū Pūrva 3.31-34)
Therefore it was said – Upananda is a learned and expert counsellor. His body has a deep blackish complexion and his face is beautified by a white moustache, which are signs of a learned and expert counsellor. His expert advise was the source of an increase in Nanda’s bliss in all respects. When the demons caused havoc in Gokula it was Upananda who gave the advice to leave Gokula and move to the safe haven of Vrindavan just to save his nephew Sri Krishna, who was dearer to him than millions of lives.
It was on his advice also that the safe haven Nandishwar Giri was established as the capital of the king of Vraja. When the people of Vraja are safe then Raghunath Das Goswami is also safe and his aspirations will be fulfilled – that is the secondary meaning transcending the first meaning of the verse.
śyāma ruci aṅga śobhā ati manohara
mantraṇāya mahā-vijña nanda sabhā mājhe;
pūjita hoyena yini paṇḍita samāje
bhrātuṣputra śrī govinde kolete koriyā;
santoṣa vidhāna kore marama bujhiyā
sei kṛṣṇa pitṛvya śrī upananda nāma;
goṣṭha-rakṣā korun tini ei nivedana
Commentary of Sri Radha Kund Mahant, Pandit Sri Ananta Das Babaji Maharaj is named Stavāmṛta Kaṇā Vyākhyā (a drop of the nectar of Stavāvalī), and was published in Gaurābda 503 (1989 A.D.) from Sri Krishna Chaitanya Shastra Mandir, Vrajananda Ghera, PO Radhakunda (district Mathura), U.P., India.
Devotional songs in Bengali that follow each commentary were composed by Dr. Haripada Śīla.
© Translated by Advaita dāsa in 1994
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