In Nectar of Instruction glorification of Radha-Kunda is as follows:
vaikuṇṭhāj janito varā madhu-purī tatrāpi rāsotsavād
vṛndāraṇyam udāra-pāṇi-ramaṇāt tatrāpi govardhanaḥ
Radha kundam ihāpi gokula-pateḥ premāmṛtāplāvanāt
kuryād asya virājato giri-taṭe sevāṁ vivekī na kaḥ
TRANSLATION
The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana because of Krishna’s rasa-lila pastimes and superior to the forest of Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krishna and was the site of His various loving pastimes and, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna. Where, then, is that intelligent person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
(Nectar of Instruction, Verse 9)
karmibhyaḥ parito hareḥ priyatayā vyaktiṁ yayur jñāninas
tebhyo jñāna-vimukta-bhakti-paramāḥ premaika-niṣṭhās tataḥ
tebhyas tāḥ paśu-pāla-paṅkaja-dṛśas tābhyo ’pi sā rādhikā
preṣṭhā tadvad iyaṁ tadīya-sarasī tāṁ nāśrayet kaḥ kṛtī
TRANSLATION
In the shastra it is said that of all types of fruitive workers, he who is advanced in knowledge of the higher values of life is favored by the Supreme Lord Hari. Out of many such people who are advanced in knowledge [jnanis], one who is practically liberated by virtue of his knowledge may take to devotional service. He is superior to the others. However, one who has actually attained prema, pure love of Krishna, is superior to him. The gopis are exalted above all the advanced devotees because they are always totally dependent upon Sri Krishna, the transcendental cowherd boy. Among the gopis, Srimati Radharani is the most dear to Krishna. Her kunda [lake] is as profoundly dear to Lord Krishna as this most beloved of the gopis. Who, then, will not reside at Radha kunda and, in a spiritual body surcharged with ecstatic devotional feelings [aprākṛta-bhāva], render loving service to the Divine Couple Sri Sri Radha-Govinda, who perform Their aṣṭa-kālīya-līlā, Their eternal eightfold daily pastimes. Indeed, those who execute devotional service on the banks of Radha kunda are the most fortunate people in the universe.
(Nectar of Instruction, Verse 10)
Krishnasyoccaiḥ praṇaya-vasatiḥ preyasībhyo ’pi rādhā
kuṇḍaṁ cāsyā munibhir abhitas tādṛg eva vyadhāyi
yat preṣṭhair apy alam asulabhaṁ kiṁ punar bhakti-bhājāṁ
tat premedaṁ sakṛd api saraḥ snātur āviṣkaroti
TRANSLATION
Of the many objects of favored delight and of all the lovable damsels of Vraja-bhumi, Srimati Radharani is certainly the most treasured object of Krishna’s love. And, in every respect, Her divine kunda is described by great sages as similarly dear to Him. Undoubtedly Radha kunda is very rarely attained even by the great devotees; therefore it is even more difficult for ordinary devotees to attain. If one simply bathes once within those holy waters, one’s pure love of Krishna is fully aroused.
(Nectar of Instruction, Verse 11)
Why is Sri Radha Kund considered such an exalted? Srila Prabhupada explains that Radha Kunda belongs to Srimati Radharani, who is the most beloved object of Sri Krishna. The great sages described that Sri Radha kunda is as dear to Krishna as radha herself. There is quotation from Laghu-bhāgavatāmṛta (Uttara-khaṇḍa 45), as quoted in Chaitanya-charitamrita:
yathā rādhā priyā viṣṇos
tasyāḥ kuṇḍaṁ priyaṁ tathā
sarva-gopīṣu saivaikā
viṣṇor atyanta-vallabhā
Just as Srimati Radharani is dear to the Supreme Lord Krishna [Visnu], so Her bathing place [Radha kunda] is equally dear to Krishna. Among all the gopis, She alone stands supreme as the Lord’s most beloved.
Srila Rupa Gosvami recommends that even if one cannot live permanently on the banks of Radha kunda, he should at least take a bath in the lake as many times as possible. This is a most important item in the execution of devotional service. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes that even great sages and great devotees like Narada and Sanaka do not get an opportunity to come to Radha kunda to take their baths. What, then, to speak of ordinary devotees? If, by great fortune, one gets an opportunity to come to Radha kunda and bathe even once, he can develop his transcendental love for Krishna, exactly as the gopis did. It is also recommended that one should live on the banks of Radha kunda and should be absorbed in the loving service of the Lord. One should bathe there regularly and give up all material conceptions, taking shelter of Sri Radha and Her assistant gopis. If one is thus constantly engaged during his lifetime, after giving up the body he will return back to Godhead to serve Sri Radha in the same way as he contemplated during his life on the banks of Radha kunda. The conclusion is that to live on the banks of the Radha kunda and to bathe there daily constitute the highest perfection of devotional service.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura writes that Sri Radha kunda is the most select place for those interested in advancing their devotional service in the wake of the lady friends (sakhis) and confidential serving maids (manjaris) of Srimati Radharani. Living entities who are eager to return home to the transcendental kingdom of God, Goloka Vrindavana, by means of attaining their spiritual bodies (siddha-deha) should live at Radha kunda, take shelter of the confidential serving maids of Sri Radha and under their direction engage constantly in Her service. This is the most exalted method for those engaged in devotional service under the protection of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It is a difficult position to attain, even for great sages and devotees like Narada. Thus there is no limit to the glory of Sri Radha kunda. By serving Radha kunda, one can get an opportunity to become an assistant of Srimati Radharani under the eternal guidance of the gopis.
In Chaitanya-Charitamrita (Madhya-lila) it is stated that when Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu first visited the area of Vraja-bhumi, He could not at first find the location of Radha kunda. Finally He found the holy spot, and there was a small pond there. He took His bath in that small pond and told His devotees that the actual Radha kunda was situated there. Later the pond was excavated by Lord Chaitanya’s devotees, headed first by the Six Gosvamis, such as Rupa and Raghunatha dasa. Presently there is a large lake of Radha Kunda. The Radha kunda is mainly worshiped by the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, the followers of Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
