AvirbhAva-mahotsave muraripoH svarNoru-muktA-phala-
zreNI-vibhrama-maNDite nava-gavI-lakSe dadau dve mudA |
divyAlaGkRti-ratna-parvata-tila-prasthAdikaM cAdarAd
viprebhyaH kila yatra sa vrajapatir vande bRhat-kAnanam ||89||
Stavamrita-kana-vyakhya: In this verse, Sripad Raghunatha praises Sri Brihad-vana, the place of Sri Krishna's advent. It is here that Sri Nanda, the king of Vraja, desiring the welfare of his son, gave ample charity to the brAhmaNas on the occasion of his birthday festival. In Srimad Bhagavata, it is written: dhenUnAM niyute prAdAd viprebhyaH samalaGkRte tilAdrIn sapta rAtraugha zAta-kaumbhAmbarAvRtAn (BhP 10.5.3), and Sridhara Swami comments: niyute dve lakSe - "When Sri Krishna took birth, Sri Nanda Maharaja gave 200.000 cows beautified with golden horns and silver hoves, covered by clothes that were inset with different gems and strings of gold, as well as seven piles of sesame, to the brAhmaNas."
In Sri Brahma Vaivarta Purana, the following is narrated:
sad rathnAni prabAlAni hIrakAni ca sAradam ||
tilAnAM pravatAn sapta suvarna kaJcanaM mune |
raupyaM dhAnyAcalaM vastraM go-sahasraM manoramam ||
"Goparaja Nanda was so happy when Krishna was born that he gave various gems, corals, diamonds and other riches, as well as seven piles of sesame, a mountain of paddy, gold, silver, garments and thousands upon thousands of cows to the brAhmaNas."
In the Bhavisya Purana, we can see how much a pile of sesame is supposed to be:
tribhiH kaniStho rAjendra tila zailaH prakIrtitaH |
pUrvavaccAparaM sarvaM viSkamba pravatAdikam ||
"The greatest pile of sesame consists of ten droNas*, a pile of five droNas is mediocre, and a pile of three droNas is the minimum. Just as there must be Viskamba-mountains** placed in all four corners around a mountain of paddy, so it is also prescribed for the mountain of sesame."
All these piles of sesame and paddy must be beautified with jewels, gold and flower garlands. The arrangements for this are also outlined in the Bhavisya Purana:
matas tu viSkambha girIn kramena |
turIya bhAgena catur-dizaM ca
saMsthApayet puSpa vilepanAdhyam |
merur mahAn vrIhi-mayas tu madhye
suvarNa vRkSa-traya saMyutaH syAt |
pUrveNa muktAphala vajra-yukto
yAmyena gomedaka puSpa-rAgaiH |
pazcAc ca gArutmata nIla-ratnaiH
saumye ca vaidUrya saroha-rAgaiH ||
"When one has thus made a Sumeru-mountain with sesame or paddy in the amounts of ten droNas or so, one must establish the Viskambha-mountains around them on four sides with sandal or flowers, divided in four parts. In the mountains of sesame and paddy, one must then place three trees made of gold. The Viskambha-mountain situated in the east must contain pearls and diamonds, the Viskambha-mountain in the south must contain topaz-gems and puSpa-rAga-gems, the Viskambha-mountain in the west must contrain gArutmata-gems and sapphires, and the Viskambha-mountain in the north must be established with Lapis Lazuli and rubies."
Sri Jiva Goswami has written in his Gopala-campu: dazabhir droNaiH kRta tila saptAcalImad adAt | yad vRti maNi kanakAnAM tad adhikatara bhAratA dvijer mene || - "Nanda Maharaja donated seven piles of sesame, each containing ten droNas, to the brAhmaNas. The brAhmaNas thought that the jewels and gold that covered these mountains of sesame were even heavier than the sesame itself."
From this description, we can get an approximate idea of the immeasurable amounts of jewels and gems Goparaja Nanda gave in charity. Vrajadhama is the transcendental playground of the Original Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. Therefore it is not at all impossible for Maharaja Sri Nanda to donate such amounts of jewels and gems. Sripada Raghunatha thus praises Brihadvana, the place where Sri Nanda Maharaja donated such vast amounts of wealth.
vraje ZrIla nanda mahArAja |
dui lakSa gAbhI-gaNe, maNi mukta vibhUSane
kori divya ratnamaya sAja ||
ratna rAzi tila giri, parama Adara kori
brAhmaNere korechilo dAna |
se bRhat kAnane, vandi mui sAvAdhane
divya cintAmaNi-maya sthAna ||
"I attentively praise Mahavana Gokula, the transcendental place made of Cintamani-gems, where Sri Krishna advented himself and where Srila Nanda Maharaja most respectfully gave away 200.000 cows decorated with jewels and pearls, dressed in divine jewel-studded blankets, as well as jewel-covered piles of sesame, in charity to the local brAhmaNas."
* A droNa is a dry measure of 32 seers for corn etc., or a measuring vessel having this capacity.
** In order to keep die pivotal mountain Sumeru steady, Lord Brahma placed four supporting mountains around it, viz. Mandara, Gandhamadana, Nila and Suparsva. Such mountains are called Viskambha-mountains. Even when mere mountains of paddy or sesame are being donated, four Viskambha-mountains must still be established around them, as if they were mount Sumeru.
[ Transl. Advaitadas ] Madhava
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