Then we come to MANTRA BHAGAVATA or âgavataPurâBhâgavata written in Vedic Mantras, a stiff work not quite intelligible without the excellent gloss of Nilkantha (published at the Venkatesvara Press, Bombay). This work is said to have been found out by Nilkantha. It is divided into four parts -- Gokula Kânda, Vrindâvana Kânda, Akrûra Kânda and Mathurâ Kânda. The chief events of Krishna's divine life (Lilâ) are narrated in this book, but in the order of narration., it follows Hari Vansa more than the Bhâgavata Purâna. I refer only to those portions of the book, which to me appear important.
We take the following from the Gokula Kânda. The Gopas are re-incarnations of Devas. They are the messengers of Krishna. They are fond of _Gavya_ or the products of Cows. The relation between Krishna and the Gopas is that between an object and its image. Krishna drove the cattle of Nanda, just as he drove the horses of Arjuna, the object of doing so being in both the cases the destruction of all the enemies (III). In commenting on the 5th Sloka, Nilkantha calls Krishna the white ray of the Sun, which becomes the blue ray, which is in reality the ray of Sat, Chit and Ananda. He refers in this connection to the word Bharga (ray) in the Gayatri. Krishna is the heart of the Sun.
"It is Krishna who causes bliss. The Sun God (Savitri), being guided by Krishna, goes his way on the golden chariot (VI)."
In the 11th sloka, Krishna is called the Black ray.
Mother Aditi (Earth) asked her son Indra for relief (VII). At the request of Indra, Vishnu entered the womb of Devaki. He first ensouled seven Ardha-Garbhas. (_Ardha_ is half and _Garbha_ is a foetal child. The six sons of Kala-nemi -- the name of a demon, literally, the rim of the wheel of time, known as Shat Garbhas, pleased Brahmâ by worship and became immortal. They were the grandsons of Hiranyakasipu. He cursed them saying: --
"I am your own grandfather. But you disregard me for the sake of the Divine Grandfather Brahmâ. Hence you shall be killed by the hands of your own father." They remained in their Linga Sarira in Pâtâla.
They incarnated as the first six sons of Vâsudeva and were killed by Kansa, the incarnation of Kala-nemi. This is related in Harivansa. Therefore they are called Ardha Garbhas. The seventh Balarâma is also called Ardha-Garbha, as he was drawn away from Devakl to Rohini. _Nilkantha_) IX.