The Final Līlā

Śrīla Prabhupāda and the Brahma-vimohana-līlā

Abstract

This article explores the connection between Śrīla Prabhupāda’s final days and the Brahma-vimohana-līlā, a significant pastime of Krishna from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. It highlights Śrīla Prabhupāda’s extraordinary effort to complete his commentary on this particular chapter, despite severe physical challenges. The article suggests that the Brahma-vimohana-līlā, which narrates how Krishna's divinity is not diminished by his playful, human-like interactions, was crucial for Śrīla Prabhupāda to emphasize. The author argues that this pastime serves as an essential foundation for understanding the more intimate Rādhā-Krishna līlā. The strategic placement of this story in the Bhāgavatam, just before the introduction of Krishna's romantic dealings with the gopīs, and the emphasis on Krishna's transcendence are discussed in detail.