Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
From the book “Sri Vraja-maṇḍala-parikramā”:
Dāna-ghāṭī is situated in the middle of Govardhana on the present-day road between Mathurā and Kāmyavana. Even today, a toll must be paid to pass through here. At the time of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Kṛṣṇa became a toll collector and performed dāna-līlā, or a toll pastime, with the gopīs through loving quarrels and sarcasm. This pastime has been beautifully described in Dāna-kelī-kaumudī, Dāna-kelī-cintāmaṇi and other books of the Gauḍīya gosvāmīs.
Once, on the bank of Govinda-kuṇḍa, Śrī Bhāgurī Ṛṣi was performing a sacrifice for the pleasure of the Supreme Lord. The cowherd boys and girls were bringing ingredients for the sacrifice from distant places. From the other side of Dāna-ghāṭī, Śrīmatī Rādhikā and Her sakhīs were also bringing yoghurt, milk, butter and various kinds of milk-sweets, such as rabaḍī. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, along with Subala, Madhumaṅgala and other sakhās, obstructed their path and forcibly demanded toll-tax, and the sakhās and gopīs began to taunt each other.
Standing in His enchanting threefold-bending form, Śrī Kṛṣṇa mischievously asked the gopīs, “What are you carrying?”
“Milk, yoghurt and butter for Bhāgurī Ṛṣi’s sacrifice,” they replied.
Madhumaṅgala’s mouth started to water upon the mere mention of butter. “Quickly pay the toll-tax and move on,” he said.
“What toll-tax?” Lalitā angrily asked. “We have never paid any toll-tax before.”
“You can pass only after paying toll-tax,” Kṛṣṇa insisted. “Since when have You become the toll collector here?” Śrīmatījī asked. “Did You inherit this place from Your father?”
“Don’t be so insolent,” He replied. “I am Vṛndāvaneśvara, the ruler of the kingdom of Vṛndāvana.”
“How is that?”
“Vṛndā is My wedded wife,” Kṛṣṇa asserted. “The property of the wife is also the property of the husband. Vṛndāvana is the kingdom of Vṛndā-devī, and therefore it is My kingdom.”
“Really?” Lalitā answered haughtily. “We have never heard anything about this. Let us ask Vṛndā right now.” She turned to Vṛndā. “Vṛndā, is this ‘black one’ your husband?”
“Never!” Vṛndā flared in disgust. “I have no relation with this lying debauchee. Previously this was my kingdom, but I have given it to Vṛndāvaneśvarī Śrīmatī Rādhikā.” All the sakhīs burst into laughter, which slightly embarrassed Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Nonetheless, He was determined to collect the toll-tax. After this love-quarrel the gopīs exchanged the toll-tax of prema at Dāna-nivartana-kuṇḍa, some distance from Dāna-ghāṭī. To find out more about this pastime, you can read Dāna-kelī-kaumudī and Dāna-kelī-cintāmaṇi.
Rajashekhara Dasa
From the book “Chaurasi-kosa Vraja Mandala Parikrama”:
This is the narrow gorge (ghati) or pathway that passes through Govardhana Hill that is famous as the place where Krishna and His cowherd boyfriends would stop the gopis and demanded a tax (dana) from them. The pastime of collecting tax from the gopis is known as dana-keli-lila and occurs in a number of places around Vraja. This celebrated gorge is also known as Krishna-vedi, the word ‘vedi’ means a tirtha or sacred place. Shrila Rupa Goswami has written a wonderful book about the dana-lila pastimes called Dana-keli-kamudi. This narrow gorge that passes through Govardhana Hill was regularly used by the gopis when they were taking Their milk products to the market. One day Krishna and His cowherd boyfriends blocked the pathway and demanded a tax in the form of milk products. If they refused to pay the tax then the gopis would have to walk a very long distance to find the next pathway through the mountain. After much haggling, the gopis gave some of their milk products to Krishna and His friends as a tax, and then they would be allowed to pass through the gorge. Although the gopis would regularly use this same pathway, or ghati to cross Govardhana Hill, due to the influence of yogamaya, they would completely forget about the previous day’s pastime of being forced to pay a tax to Krishna and His cowherd boyfriends.
The Bhakti-ratnakara says, “This secluded place is Dana-ghati, also known by some people as Krishna-bedi. In Vraja-vilasa-stava a description is given as follows. ‘One day Lord Krishna, the youthful king of amorous heroes, became eager at heart to enjoy the dana-keli pastime. Blocking the path, He forbade Shrimati Radharani to pass, proclaiming Himself a toll collector appointed by the king of love and demanding that She pay a toll of the milk products She was carrying. I sing the glories of Shri Krishna-bedi, the place where the Lord enjoyed these pastimes.'” Located on the right side of the road as it passes over Dana-gati from the direction of the parikrama path is the temple of Giriraraja Maharaja.
