hari-vamÅ›e kahiyÄche goloke nitya-sthiti
indra Äsi' karila yabe Å›rÄ«-kṛṣṇere stuti

 hari-vamÅ›e - the revealed scripture known as Hari-vamÅ›a; kahiyÄche - has told of; goloke - on the planet called Goloka; nitya-sthiti - the eternal situation; indra - King Indra of the heavenly planets; Äsi' - coming; karila - offered; yabe - when; Å›rÄ«-kṛṣṇere stuti - prayers to Lord ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa.


Text

In the revealed scripture Hari-vaá¹Å›a, there is a description of Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana, the planet where Lord ÅšrÄ« Kṛṣṇa eternally resides. This information was given by King Indra when he surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and offered prayers after Kṛṣṇa had raised Govardhana Hill.

Purport

In the Vedic scripture Hari-vaá¹Å›a (Viṣṇu-parva, chapter nineteen), there is the following description of Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana:

manuá¹£ya-lokÄd Å«rdhvaá¹ tu khagÄnÄá¹ gatir ucyate
ÄkÄÅ›asyopari ravir dvÄraá¹ svargasya bhÄnumÄn
svargÄd Å«rdhvaá¹ brahma-loko brahmará¹£i-gaṇa-sevitaḥ
tatra soma-gatiÅ› caiva jyotiá¹£Äá¹ ca mahÄtmanÄm
tasyopari gavÄá¹ lokaḥ sÄdhyÄs taá¹ pÄlayanti hi
sa hi sarva-gataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ mahÄ-kÄÅ›a-gato mahÄn
upary upari tatrÄpi gatis tava tapo-mayÄ«
yÄá¹ na vidmo vayaá¹ sarve pá¹›cchanto ’pi pitÄm aham
gatiḥ Å›ama-damÄá¹­yÄnÄá¹ svargaḥ su-ká¹›ta-karmaṇÄm
brÄhmye tapasi yuktÄnÄá¹ brahma-lokaḥ parÄ gatiḥ
gavÄm eva tu goloko durÄrohÄ hi sÄ gatiḥ
sa tu lokas tvayÄ kṛṣṇa sÄ«damÄnaḥ ká¹›tÄtmanÄ
dhá¹›to dhá¹›timatÄ vÄ«ra nighnatopadravÄn gavÄm

When the King of heaven, Indra, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa after Kṛṣṇa had raised Govardhana Hill, Lord Indra stated that above the planetary systems wherein human beings reside is the sky, where birds fly. Above the sky is the sun and its orbit. This is the entrance to the heavenly planets. Above the heavenly planets are other planets, up to Brahmaloka, where those advancing in spiritual knowledge reside. The planets up to Brahmaloka are part of the material world (DevÄ«-dhÄma). Because the material world is under the control of DevÄ«, DurgÄ, it is called DevÄ«-dhÄma. Above DevÄ«-dhÄma is a place where Lord Åšiva and his wife UmÄ reside. Those brightened by spiritual knowledge and liberated from material contamination reside in that Åšivaloka. Beyond that planetary system is the spiritual world, where there are planets called Vaikuṇṭhalokas. Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana is situated above all the Vaikuṇṭhalokas. Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana is the kingdom of ÅšrÄ«matÄ« RÄdhÄrÄṇī and the parents of Kṛṣṇa, MahÄrÄja Nanda and mother YaÅ›odÄ. In this way there are various planetary systems, and they are all creations of the Supreme Lord. As stated in the Brahma-saá¹hitÄ (5.43):

goloka-nÄmni nija-dhÄmni tale ca tasya
 devÄ«-maheÅ›a-hari-dhÄmasu teá¹£u teá¹£u
te te prabhÄva-nicayÄ vihitÄÅ› ca yena
 govindam Ädi-puruá¹£aá¹ tam ahaá¹ bhajÄmi

“Below the planet named Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana are the planets known as DevÄ«-dhÄma, MaheÅ›a-dhÄma and Hari-dhÄma. These are opulent in different ways. They are managed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, the original Lord. I offer my obeisances unto Him.â€

Thus Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana-dhÄma is situated above the Vaikuṇṭha planets. The spiritual sky containing all the Vaikuṇṭha planets is very small compared to Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana-dhÄma. The space occupied by Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana-dhÄma is called mahÄkÄÅ›a, or “the greatest sky of all.†Lord Indra said, “We asked Lord BrahmÄ about Your eternal planet, but we could not understand it. Those fruitive actors who have controlled their senses and mind with pious activities can be elevated to the heavenly planets. Pure devotees who are always engaged in Lord NÄrÄyaṇa’s service are promoted to the Vaikuṇṭha-lokas. However, my Lord Kṛṣṇa, Your Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana-dhÄma is very difficult to attain. Yet both You and that supreme planetary system have descended here upon this earth. Unfortunately, I have disturbed You by my misdeeds, and that was due to my foolishness. I am therefore trying to satisfy You by my prayers.â€

ÅšrÄ« NÄ«lakaṇṭha confirms the existence of Goloka Vá¹›ndÄvana-dhÄma by quoting the Ṛg-saá¹hitÄ (Ṛg Veda 1.154.6):

tÄ vÄá¹ vÄstÅ«ny uÅ›masi gamadhyai
 yatra gÄvo bhÅ«ri-śṛṅgÄ ayÄsaḥ
atrÄha tad urugÄyasya kṛṣṇaḥ
 paramaá¹ padam avabhÄti bhÅ«ri

“We wish to go to Your [RÄdhÄ’s and Kṛṣṇa’s] beautiful houses, about which cows with large, excellent horns are wandering. Yet distinctly shining on this earth is that supreme abode of Yours that showers joy on all, O UrugÄya [Kṛṣṇa, who is much praised].â€