Fourth Sarga: Morning Pastimes

Fourth Sarga

After Vrajendra had repeatedly urged Him and sent Him from the cowshed, Kṛṣṇa saw His mother approaching to meet Him. Her breasts and clothing were wet with milk and tears, and her face was turned toward Him. (1)

'Come, come, child! Though hungry, You do not quickly return home. Why do You distress me? The rice and other foods prepared with such great care are growing cold.' (2)

Speaking thus to her son, she wiped His body with her lotus hand. Saturated with ripened affection, she addressed His companions, who were eager to return to their own homes. (3)

'Without you He does not eat much, and He is very eager to join you again soon. Children, since He is so restless, your meal with Him in my house is always especially dear to me.' (4)

'Therefore go to your homes, sons. Bathe and adorn yourselves with ornaments, then, for you are hungry, return quickly to my house to eat.' (5)

When the delighted boys had departed, the queen of Vraja's clan took her son home together with Rāma and Madhumaṅgala. (6)

As Mukunda returned home, He drenched the cowherd girls, whose thirsty eyes were like parched cātakī birds, with abundant showers from the stream of His sweetness. At the same time He made the cakora birds of His own eyes drink the sweet nectar of the radiance of their moonlike faces. (7)

When Kṛṣṇa reached the bathing platform, a servant removed the ornaments from His body. Another servant named Sāraṅga quickly wrapped Him in a freshly folded cloth of Chinese silk. (8)

When the Lord sat comfortably upon an excellent seat, Patrī washed His lotus feet with fragrant water poured from a ewer shining in Patraka's hand, then dried them with a cloth. (9)

Subandha, the barber's son, anointed Him with Nārāyaṇa oil. First gently flexing and loosening each limb in various ways, he lovingly massaged Kṛṣṇa's body. (10)

The charming servant Sugandha gently rubbed His body with a naturally cooling, yellow, fragrant, and unctuous cleansing paste, soft as a ball of fresh butter. (11)

The affectionate Karpūra treated Kṛṣṇa's already glossy hair with a rich, cooling, fragrant paste of fresh āmalakī fruit. (12)

Raktaka slowly rinsed His naturally cool, radiant, and tender limbs with a stream of cooling water supplied by Payoda, then dried them thoroughly with Chinese silk. (13)

The delighted servants then bathed their Lord with water stored in rows of pots, gently warmed and perfumed, which they poured from small golden vessels. (14)

Patrī dried His beautiful body with soft Chinese cloth and removed the drops of water from His hair. She then dressed Him in a drying cloth radiant as gold. (15)

Kṛṣṇa sat upon a stool placed on the polished platform. Kumuda combed His hair, perfumed it with aguru smoke, tied it in a topknot, and bound the knot with a garland. (16)

The decorator named Makaranda painted a tamāla-leaf design upon Kṛṣṇa's forehead with gorocanā, placing musk at its center, and anointed His limbs with catuḥ-sama perfume. (17)

Premakanda placed golden bracelets called Caṅkana upon His two splendid arms, two shining makara-shaped earrings upon His ears, and anklets upon His beautiful feet whose captivating sound resembled swans. He then placed a necklace of star-like jewels upon His chest. (18)

Overwhelmed with love, His mother watched her son at every stage, urged the servants to hurry in their work, and personally performed some services herself. (19)

Kṛṣṇa shone beside glorious Balarāma, Madhumaṅgala, and the other companions who had just arrived, all bathed, anointed, honored, and adorned. (20)

Their mother led them to the dining terrace. It had been washed, polished, and fumigated with excellent incense, and was furnished with rows of spotless seats and lines of water-filled ewers wrapped in damp cloth. (21)

Śrīdāma and Subala sat to Kṛṣṇa's left, Madhumaṅgala directly before Him, glorious Balarāma to His right, and the other boys all around. (22)

When they were seated, Citrā brought drinks carefully arranged in golden vessels. The mother served them in order to her son and the other boys. (23)

Summoned by Yaśodā, the delighted cowherd girls brought her the sweet breakfast foods that each of them had prepared. (24)

At Rādhā's signal, Raṅgadevī offered the mother the sugar laḍḍus called Gaṅgā-jala, which Śrī Rādhā had carefully brought from home. (25)

The mother divided the laḍḍus, placed them separately upon the golden plates spread before the boys, and affectionately served them to Balarāma and the others. (26)

The sakhīs joyfully watched Kṛṣṇa savor the foods cooked in ghee, make the boys laugh with delightful jokes, and glance from the corners of His eyes at Rādhā's face. (27)

Pointing with her forefinger, His mother said, 'Child, that is wholesome, this is sweet, this one is rich, and that one is very fine. Eat!' (28)

Knowing the favorite food of each boy, Hari repeatedly tossed that very item from His own plate to him, laughing all the while. (29)

Seeing His mother so attentive while Acyuta ate slowly, the young brāhmaṇa, expert in joking, spoke to the queen of Vraja about Him. (30)

'Mother, if He will not eat very much, give it all to me and I shall eat it. Embraced by me, a great eater, He will become stout!' (31)

'His appetite is weak, so He lacks the strength to eat foods cooked in ghee. Mother, have lightly prepared rice and vegetables served to Him instead.' (32)

Laughing, Kṛṣṇa filled the young brāhmaṇa's dish with five handfuls of cooked food from His own plate and said, 'Eat!' (33)

The delighted brāhmaṇa boy struck his left elbow against his left side and prepared to eat in earnest. He said to Kṛṣṇa: (34)

'Friend, watch how I eat!' After swallowing two mouthfuls, he said, 'Mother, give me yogurt,' and sent her to fetch it. (35)

'Cowherds, look! That restless monkey king, greedy for yogurt and hoping to get cooked food, is dancing over there!' Making them all turn toward that direction, Madhumaṅgala quietly tossed his own food into their dishes. Then he boasted, 'I have eaten it all!' (36)

When Yaśodā returned holding the bowl of yogurt, he said, 'See, Mother! I quickly ate everything even without the yogurt. Now give me plenty of that rice pudding.' (37)

Rādhā had placed the rice pudding in golden bowls and cooled it with gentle breezes from fresh plantain leaves. Rohiṇī quickly took it in her own hand and served it to the boys. (38)

Vimala and the other leading attendants set rows of golden dishes upon stands before the diners. Balarāma's mother then slowly served them the excellent rice that Rādhā had placed in her hand. (39)

Again and again Rohiṇī brought the vegetable dishes and all the remaining sour preparations that Gāndharvā handed her, and slowly served them to the boys in order. (40)

She placed on separate plates and served them light roṭikā breads, made from finely kneaded wheat flour, pale like the inner sheath of a plantain stem, and bathed in ghee. (41)

Dhaniṣṭhā brought forward the rasālā and other preparations made by Lalitā and the other sakhīs. The queen of Vraja placed each in separate vessels and rejoiced as she served them affectionately to the boys. (42)

In their beloved's residence, the supremely praiseworthy sakhīs rejoiced to behold the face dearest to their hearts. Drawn by His exceedingly sweet and tender beauty, they became overwhelmed by the powerful emotions that arose within them. (43)

The boys eagerly savored the four kinds of sweet food, which seemed like transformations born from the essence of nectar. They laughed at their own jokes while making the mother laugh as well. (44)

Some chewed the tender foods meant to be chewed; others eagerly licked the foods meant to be licked. Still others joyfully drank the drinks, while those who remained unsatisfied sucked the foods meant to be sucked. (45)

Lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa eagerly and slowly tasted each dish made nectar-sweet by His beloved's touch, murmuring sounds of delight. Concealing the bee of His sidelong glance as He sent it toward the lotus of Her face, He filled His mother's heart with profound joy. (46)

The stream of Rādhikā's startled sidelong glance met Kṛṣṇa's and was nourished by tasting the nectar of His extraordinary beauty. Concealing the jubilation of all the emotions spreading within Her, She powerfully captivated Her beloved's heart. (47)

Then Kṛṣṇa saw His beloved through the space beside Balarāma's mother as She placed one tender, sweet morsel after another into Rohiṇī's hand. Her languid, intoxicating eyes danced, and the urbane Lord lost His concentration and His appetite slackened. (48)

Seeing that He had eaten only part of the food and left nearly three quarters of some items, His mother became anxious at His slow eating. (49)

'Son, why have You left all the rice and other foods prepared so carefully? You are hungry. Eat a little more, I swear upon my head.' (50)

'I brought Vṛṣabhānu's daughter here with great effort, son, and She prepared all this rice and other sweet food, more delicious than limitless nectar. Yet You still will not eat. Alas, what am I to do?' (51)

She then said, 'Rohiṇī, look at this restless boy. Though weak and hungry, this poor eater will not eat anything.' (52)

Then Balarāma's mother, her whole body filled with affection, stood before Aghamardana and spoke to Him fondly. (53)

'Child, tender Rādhā, soft as jasmine, and I carefully prepared this delicious food. You are emaciated with hunger, yet You do not eat. Why do You distress both this mother of Yours and me?' (54)

'Son, see how Your mother grieves. Let me ward away all evil from You. You will grow weary while roaming in the forest, so eat a little and obey my words.' (55)

'I have eaten a great deal and My hunger is gone,' Kṛṣṇa said, restraining the emotion that had surged within Him. Seeing Him eat a little more, the two mothers rejoiced in Nanda's son. (56)

'Child, this is very sweet, and so is this. Eat!' His mother repeatedly spoke to her son, pointing out each item with her fingers and swearing solemnly. Her eyes flooded with tears, for she longed to place every morsel of food within His belly. (57)

Again and again she urged her already satisfied son to taste rasālā, ripe mango nectar, śikhariṇī, ṣāḍava, milk, karambha, āmikṣā, vegetable dishes, yogurt delicacies, cakes, and fried dumplings. Yet she remained unsatisfied, her garment wet with tears from her eyes and milk from her breasts. (58)

After eating and drinking the many very sweet, tender, and delicious foods to be chewed, swallowed, licked, and drunk, they were filled with rasa and became eager to go to the forest. (59)

They all cleaned the lotuses of their mouths and hands with fragrant clay and gently brushed their teeth with soft twigs. Then they rinsed with water the servants gave them from golden and other small pitchers. (60)

They happily perfumed and cooled their mouths with excellent shining catechu tablets mixed with cardamom, cloves, and camphor, supplied by Jambūla. Then they rubbed their full bellies with their left hands. (61)

Eagerly and happily they chewed betel packets of bright, well-ripened leaves, prepared by Rasāla's hands and offered to them. Then, fanned by attendants, they rested upon the many broad couches in the inner chambers called Śatapada. (62)

As Kṛṣṇa rested there, the attendants fanned Him with fans of peacock feathers. Vilāsaka split tender leaves and fed the Lord soft betel packets. (63)

Rādhā left the kitchen and washed Her hands and feet. Attended by maidservants with fans, She entered an inner room with Her friends and watched Her beloved through a lattice window. (64)

Seeing Rādhā covered with perspiration born of bliss, the queen of Vraja assumed that She was greatly wearied by Her labor. She joyfully and insistently seated Her to eat and had Balarāma's mother bring food from the kitchen. (65)

At Yaśodā's instruction, Dhaniṣṭhā secretly mixed Hari's remnants with food prepared in ghee, brought it from the kitchen, and served it to Rādhā and Her friends. (66)

Seeing that Rādhikā was not eating but modestly lowered Her cloth-covered face, Kṛṣṇa's mother, overwhelmed with maternal affection, spoke to Her. (67)

'My child, why should You feel such shyness before me, Your mother? My heart is exceedingly affectionate toward You as toward my own son. Dear girl, remove this veil. Let me ward away evil from You. Cool my eyes by eating while I watch You directly.' (68)

'You are also my daughters. Lalitā and all the rest of you, why be shy before me? Eat.' With such insistence, hundreds of solemn oaths, sweet food, and sweet words, the mother fed them all. (69)

Longing arose in Yaśodā's heart to take Rādhā's hand for her son. Out of affection, she had therefore commissioned many bridal ornaments fashioned to Rādhā's likeness and kept them carefully in excellent caskets within the house. (70)

Dhaniṣṭhā brought those ornaments, along with betel, sandalwood paste, excellent garments, and elephant-ivory adornments. The queen of Vraja honored Rādhā, surrounded by Her friends, like a new bride, and became joyful as her heart overflowed. (71)

Viśākhā secretly gave Dhaniṣṭhā the yellow upper cloth that Rādhā had taken during the night, and Dhaniṣṭhā gave it to Subala. Subala in turn gave Viśākhā the blue garment that Kṛṣṇa had taken from Rādhā that same night. (72)

Meanwhile the servants, distinguished for excellence in their respective services and their bodies blossoming with affection, personally adorned their Lord with those perfumes, garlands, garments, and ornaments. (73)

He wore designs of many branching forms painted with sandalwood and saffron and multicolored mineral patterns; abundant new garments; a crown of peacock feathers; rings and two earrings; a guñjā necklace; a necklace of excellent jewels; the radiant Kaustubha; the Vaijayantī garland; armlets and bracelets; splendid anklets and foot ornaments; and a chain. (74)

Upon His chest He wore a necklace strung with large pearls, within whose many reflections Gāndharvā alone was visible to Him. (75)

Lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa carried His horn at the left side of His waist, tucked within His sash, and His jewel-decorated flute similarly at the right. In His left hand He held a straight yellow herding stick, while in His right He playfully twirled a lotus. (76)

Surrounded by companions whose smiles, playful ways, and dress resembled His own and who carried flutes, horns, leaves, and herding sticks, lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa left the house for the forest, stealing the hearts of the doe-eyed women. (77)

Thus ends the Fourth Sarga, consisting of the description of the morning meal pastimes, in Govinda-līlāmṛta: a poem that is the fruit of service to Śrī Rūpa, the honeybee at Śrī Caitanya's lotus feet; undertaken at the direction of the accomplished Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa; arisen from the association of Śrī Jīva; and born from the blessing of Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa. (Colophon to the Fourth Sarga)