Adi-lila, Chapter 1 59

peacock feathers in His crown. Under the shade of His lotus feet, which are like
desire trees, Jayasri [Radharani] enjoys the transcendental mellow of an eternal

consort.”
PURPORT

This verse is from the Krsga-karnamcta, which was written by a great Vaisnava
sannydasi named Bilvamangala Thakura, who is also known as Lilasuka. He intensely
desired to enter into the eternal pastimes of the Lord, and he lived at Vrndavana for
seven hundred years in the vicinity of. Brahma-kunda, a still existing bathing tank in
Vendavana. The history of Bilvamangala Thakura is given in a book called $r7
Vallabha-digvijaya. He appeared in the Eighth Century Saka Era in the province of
Dravida and was the chief disciple of Visnusvamf. In a list of temples and monaster-
ies kept in Sankaracarya’s monastery in Dvaraka, Bilvamangala is mentioned as the
founder of the Dvarakadhisa Temple there. He entrusted the service of his Deity to
Hari Brahmacari, a disciple of Vallabha Bhatta.

Bilvamangala Thakura actually entered into the transcendental pastimes of Lord
Krsna. He has recorded his transcendental experiences and appreciation in the book
known as Ksna-karnamrta. In the beginning of that book he has offered his obei-
sances to his different gurus, and it is to be noted that he has adored them all
equally. The first spiritual master mentioned is Cintamani, who was his instructing
spiritual master because she first showed him the spiritual path. Cintamani was a
prostitute with whom Bilvamangala was intimate earlier in his life. She gave him the
inspiration to begin on the path of devotional service, and because she convinced
him to give up material existence to try for perfection by loving Krsna, he has first
offered his respects to her. Next he offers his respects to his initiating spiritual
master, Somagiri, and then to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who was also
his instructing spiritual master. He explicitly mentions Bhagavan, who has peacock
feathers on His crown, because the Lord of Vendavana, Krsna the cowherd boy,
used to come to Bilvamangala to talk with him and supply him with milk. In his
adoration of Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead, he describes that J ayasri, the
goddess of fortune, Srimati Radharani, takes shelter in the shade of His lotus feet
to enjoy the transcendental rasa of nuptial love. The complete treatise Krsna-
karndmrta is dedicated to the transcendental pastimes of Sri Krsna and Srimati
Radhardani. It is a book to be read and understood by the most elevated devotees of
Sri Krsna.

TEXT 58

Pica Aiwie, aE SITS OR COSTA |
PrBVOw SH SY FAS AACA ove
five sGksat nahi tate guru caittya-rupe
siksa-guru haya kpsna-mahaénta-svariuipe
SYNONYMS

jive—by the living entity; saksat—direct experience; ndhi—there is not; tate—
therefore; guru—the spiritual master; ca/ttya-rupe—in the form of the Supersoul;
