Text 3] The Meeting of Nanda Mahārāja and Vasudeva
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PURPORT
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Thākura has discussed the significance of the words  nandas tu . The word  tu , he says, is not used to fulfill the sentence, because without  tu  the sentence is complete. Therefore the word  tu  is used for a different purpose. Although Krṣṇa appeared as the son of Devakī, Devakī and Vasudeva did not enjoy the  jāta-karma , the festival of the birth ceremony. Instead, this ceremony was enjoyed by Nanda Mahārāja, as stated here ( nandas tv ātmaja utpanne jātāhlādo mahāmanāḥ ). When Nanda Mahārāja met Vasudeva, Vasudeva could not disclose, “Your son Krṣṇa is actually my son. You are His father in a different way, spiritually.” Because of fear of Kaṁsa, Vasudeva could not observe the festival for Krṣṇa’s birth. Nanda Mahārāja, however, took full advantage of this opportunity.
The  jāta-karma  ceremony can take place when the umbilical cord, connecting the child and the placenta, is cut. However, since Krṣṇa was brought by Vasudeva to the house of Nanda Mahārāja, where was the chance for this to happen? In this regard, Viśvanātha Cakravartī Thākura desires to prove with evidence from many  śāstras  that Krṣṇa actually took birth as the son of Yaśodā before the birth of Yogamāyā, who is therefore described as the Lord’s younger sister. Even though there may be doubts about the cutting of the umbilical cord, and even though it is possible that this was not done, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears, such events are regarded as factual. Krṣṇa appeared as Varāhadeva from the nostril of Brahmā, and therefore Brahmā is described as the father of Varāhadeva. Also significant are the words  kārayām āsa vidhivat . Being overwhelmed with jubilation over the birth of his son, Nanda Mahārāja did not see whether the cord was cut or not. Thus he performed the ceremony very gorgeously. According to the opinion of some authorities, Krṣṇa was actually born as the son of Yaśodā. In any case, without regard for material understandings, we can accept that Nanda Mahārāja’s celebration for the ceremony of Krṣṇa’s birth was proper. This ceremony is therefore well known everywhere as Nandotsava.
TEXT 3
धेनूनां नियुते प्रादाद् विप्रेभ्यः समलङ्कृते । तिलाद्रीन् सप्त रत्नौ धशातकौम्भाम्बरावृतान् ॥ ३ ॥