CHAPTER FIVE
The Meeting of
Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva
As described in this chapter, Nanda Maharaja very gorgeously performed
the birth ceremony for his newborn child. Then he went to Karnsa to pay
taxes due and met his intimate friend Vasudeva.

There was great jubilation all over Vrndavana due to Krsna’s birth.
Everyone was overwhelmed with joy. Therefore the King of Vraja,
Maharaja Nanda, wanted to perform the birth ceremony for his child,
and this he did. During this great festival, Nanda Maharaja gave in
charity to all present whatever they desired. After the festival, Nanda
Maharaja put the cowherd men in charge of protecting Gokula, and then
he went to Mathura to pay official taxes to Karnsa. In Mathura, Nanda
Maharaja met Vasudeva. Nanda Maharaja and Vasudeva were brothers,
and Vasudeva praised Nanda Maharaja’s good fortune because he knew
that Krsna had accepted Nanda Mahdaraja as His father. When Vasudeva
inquired from Nanda Maharaja about the welfare of the child, Nanda
Maharaja informed him all about Vrndavana, and Vasudeva was very
much satisfied by this, although he expressed his grief because Devaki’s
many children had been killed by Kamsa. Nanda Maharaja consoled
Vasudeva by saying that everything happens according to destiny and
that one who knows this is not aggrieved. Expecting many disturbances
in Gokula, Vasudeva then advised Nanda Maharaja not to wait in
Mathur4, but to return to Vrndavana as soon as possible. Thus Nanda
Maharaja took leave of Vasudeva and returned to Vrndavana with the
other cowherd men on their bullock carts.

TEXTS 1-2
ATH SAI
ASKART TAA AAS ALTA: |
TET FA AeA MIA: DPTAFA: te
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