Skanda said:
Narada, having ascended the peak of Meru, saw with his divine sight the Sveta-dvipa, also the people residing there, and the liberated who were thousands in number.
At once concentrating his mind on Lord Vasudeva, he flew from that place and instantly reached that abode. (1-2)
Having reached that great island, Narada, with great happiness, saw those white devotees shining forth with the lustre of moon. He worshipped then mentally and by bowing his head.
They also worshiped him. Narada, desirous of realizing that Supreme Brahman was spending his time in penance at that place. (3-4)
Those devotees of the Lord residing there realizing that Narada was a dedicated devotee of the Lord, told Narada who was chanting the twelve-syllabled mantra, with great joy.(5)
O sage! Since you are the devotee of Lord of Krishna, you were able to see the scenes that could not be witnessed even by divine beings. Then, for what purpose are you performing this penance? (6)
Narada said:
I am anxious to directly see the Supreme Brahman, Lord Krishna, who is the King of the devotees; you are the dear ones of that Krishna; please show Him to me. (7)
Skanda said:
Then one of the liberated souls of the Sveta-dvipa (known as Svetamukta), being motivated from within by Krishna, stood in front of him stating “Please come, I will show you that Krishna”. (8)
Narada, pleased with this, went along with him in the sky soaring high (celestial path) seeing the different abodes of the divine beings. (9)
O best of the Brahmins! Having seen the seven sages, Dhruva and not interested in certain places he crossed the worlds like Mahar, Jana and Tapas. (10)
Then seeing the Brahmaloka, following the Svetamukta, according to the will of Krishna crossed all the eight regions.
Having crossed the regions of earth, water, fire, air, space, Ahankara, Mahat and Prakrti, one after another, each one having ten attributes, Narada reached the wonderful Goloka. (11-12)
That Goloka is the luminous abode of Lord Hari that can be attained, only by the ardent devotees of the Lord.
While going to that place Narada saw the deep Viraja River with great expanse. (13)
The Viraja River had a sweet fragrance due to the sandal pastes, which were washed off when the cowherds and their spouses had ablution in the Viraja River.
It was beautiful by red and blue water lilies. (14)
Narada reached the banks of that river, which was studded with transparent stones and shining forth with precious stones having white, red, green and yellow colours. (15)
It was beautiful with the groves of wish-yielding trees, rendered beautiful by the tender leaves having the colour of the corals.
The mines of gems like ‘Syamantaka’, ‘Indranila’ and so on further decorated it. It was attractive by the flight of steps studded with precious gems.
Many of the birds like swans, ‘Karandavas’, were making melodies sounds.
The water of that river was being drunk by groups of wish-yielding cows, kings, elephants and horses.
Narada crossed over that river. (16-18)
Having got up from that divine river at once, due to the will of the Lord, Narada reached the ‘Shatasringa’ mountain forming the rampart of that Goloka. (19)
That golden mountain with a height of ten million yojanas was most beautiful. It was beautifully spreading over an expense of hundred million yojanas.
It was very attractive by the thousands of wish-yielding and other trees. Other trees like ‘parijata’ etc, and creepers like clove, cardamom, jasmine and other creepers.
Further, it was attractive due to the presence of golden plantain etc. and groups of divine animals and
elephants and birds of chirping sounds. (20-22)
Narada witnessed large, beautiful sporting abodes of the Lord at the foot of the mountains forming the ramparts of that Goloka. (23)
They were surrounded by rows of gardens rendered fragrant with doors studded with gems with four entrances each. Decorated with varieties of festoons and thousands of gem-studded pillars. (24-25)
Adorned by with stock of plantains, pendant pearls and upper garments associated with ‘durva’ grass, fried rice, yellow rice and fruits that were auspicious.
The yards of those mantaps were sprinkled with sandal, ‘Agaru’, ‘Kasturi’, and saffron. They were also endearing due to the melodious sounds emanating from different musical instruments.
There he saw crores of groups of cow-maids. (26-27)
They were beautiful, decorated with invaluable clothes and jewels, with bangles and bracelets, studded with precious gems, girdles, anklets, bracelets, and were attractive because of their fingers. (28)
They were unparalleled by their youth, handsome lustre and mellifluous voice.
They had the complexion of Radha and Lakshmi.
They had decorated hands. (29)
They were seen in those Mantapas that were full of luxurious things. All of them are singing the glory of Krishna in a very attractive manner. (30)
O Savarni! Then, on the lands near that mountain, sage Narada perceived a great forest called Vrindavana.
That place was the place of excursion of Krishna and Radhika.
It was most enjoyable due to the groves of wish-yielding trees and lotus flowered lakes. (31-32)
It was shining forth with several trees like mango, ‘amrataka’, ‘nipa’, ‘badami’, pomegranates, dates, areca nut trees, orange trees, coconut trees, sandal trees, ‘jambu’ trees, ‘jambira’, and jack trees and ‘devadaru’ trees. Further, there were plantains trees, champak trees, grapes and golden ketaki flowers. (33-34)
Thus, this place appeared attractive with trees that bent down due to the weight of the fruits and flowers. (35)
The cool breeze that was rendered fragrant due to the smell of flowers of creepers of water from the ‘Satashringa’ Mountain and the waterfalls therein served that forest. (36)
The place appeared to be always associated with the spring season, being decorated by the rows of lamps in the form of gems. It was associated with several ornamental things and creeper bowers. (37)
It was reverberating all around with the sounds of songs sung by the cowherds and their maids, of sounds of birds, calves and cows, sounds of jewels and sounds of churning the curds.
O Sage! See this Vrindavan garden, which is further, associated with thirty-two other gardens, which are beautiful on account of trees laden with blossoming flowers and fruits. (38-39)
After witnessing that Vrindavan Garden, Narada entered the brilliant place of Goloka that had a circular fort made out of precious stones and bedecked with a royal path. (40)
It was rendered attractive due to the presence of crores of aeroplanes of the devotees of Krishna, chariots decorated with precious gems and tinkling bells. (41)
The city was beautiful with crores of wonderful mansions constructed in rows with innumerable precious gems and decorated with gem-studded rows of pillars. (42)
It was most beautiful with the public reception places meant for excursions that were constructed with the essence of gems, decorated with rows of lamps of gems and gem-studded platforms. (43)
The courtyards were embellished by the stocks of plantain, Arecanuts, fried rice, ‘durva’ grass, curds and sprinkled with juice of saffron, ‘kasturi’, ‘Agaru’ and ‘Kesara’.
It was rendered auspicious by festoons, water filled golden pitchers, and was full of elephants and horses moving in the royal roads decorated with precious stones. (44-45)
It was full of Kings of different worlds, Brahma, Shankara, and others, holding presents in their hands, who, had come there to have an audience with Krishna.
The roads of that place were jam-packed by groups of cowherds and heir maids proceeding to witness Krishna.
Sage Narada was overjoyed to see this Goloka. (46-47)
Then Narada reached the most beautiful palace of Krishna, which was awe-inspiring. It was surrounded by great bulls like Nandi etc and rows of mansions of the cowherds.
These mansions had four entrances, encircled by sixteen ramparts, and moats surrounded by crores of cowherds and well secured by Chamberlains. (48-49)
In the entrances associated with doorjambs studded with gems, he saw the doorkeepers sitting in a row. (50)
After bowing down to the door keepers viz Virabhanu, Chandrabhanu Surbyabhanu, Vasubhanu, Devabhanu, Shakrabhanu, Ratnabhanu, Suparshva, Vishala, Vrishabha and others, Amshu, Bala, Subala, Devaprastha, Varuthapa, and Sridama, Sage Narada entered into the palace of Krishna after obtaining their permission.
Then he witnessed great effulgence, which was spreading all over in a big hall. (51-53)
Thus ends the Sixteenth Chapter titled “Description of Goloka” of Vasudeva Mahatmya, of the Skanda Purana.
