Sixth Sarga: Forenoon Pastimes

Sixth Sarga

After entering the forest, Hari turned His neck and looked behind. Seeing that the residents of Vraja had finally turned back, He stretched His limbs in relief. (1)

Kṛṣṇa was like a maddened elephant released from the settlement's strong chain of gazes. Breathing freely, playful and unrestrained, He seemed to become another person within the forest. (2)

The artist Forest released the living picture cloth of Śrī Kṛṣṇa from the binding gaze of Vraja. At once many auspicious pictures of His pastimes appeared, each a festival for the eyes. (3)

The cowherd boys danced, sang, laughed, leapt, rejoiced, and tumbled about. They spread their jokes and sported like noble young elephants released from restraint. (4)

Some imitated Bakāri's rigid posture before His mother and the darting glances He cast toward the women. Others mimicked the gestures and faltering speech of the people who had watched that encounter. (5)

Some, hidden by trees and vines and pretending to be cowherd girls, coyly uncovered cloth-veiled faces, cast restless sidelong glances moist with smiles, and laughed while looking at Him. Others joyfully impersonated white calves: they rested hands and feet upon the ground, tossed their necks, and raised their ears and faces. (6)

Some played contentious scholars, refuting one another's words and meanings. Others fought stick against stick, while still others battled arm against arm. (7)

Others pleased Acyuta by skillfully hurling volleys of toy weapons, whirling staffs, dancing, laughing, and rendering playful service. (8)

Seeing Kṛṣṇa arrive, Vṛndā awakened Vṛndā's forest, which had languished in separation from Him, and roused the distressed multitude of Vṛndāvana's moving and unmoving beings. (9)

'Friend Forest, Mādhava has arrived! Cast off the dizziness of separation and quickly rejoice. By unfolding your many virtues, remind Him of your own mistress, and fulfill your beauty through the lovely pastimes of these Two.' (10)

'Awaken, creepers! Blossom, trees! Leap, deer! Cuckoos, sing with the bees! Peacocks, dance in joy! Parrots, recite! All moving and unmoving beings, rejoice without end. Your dearest has come to bring you happiness.' (11)

Kṛṣṇa, a rain cloud, saw His dear forest faint beneath the wildfire of separation. To revive her and announce His arrival, He showered the nectar of His flute's notes. (12)

Bathed in the nectarean rain of the flute's music, fanned by the breeze that had touched Kṛṣṇa's body, and fully awakened by her friend Śrī Vṛndā, Vṛndā's forest suddenly opened her eyes. (13)

The nectar of the flute reversed the natural properties of her beings, and her own ecstatic transformations arose. In this way the forest became overwhelmed. (14)

Vṛndāvana displayed trembling as the moving beings shook, and stunned stillness as the mobile creatures became rigid. She perspired in streams like tears, grew pale beneath masses of white flowers, wept drops of floral honey, suffered breaks in voice through the cries of birds, and showed horripilation in clusters of vine shoots. Thus she shone in ecstasy. (15)

Adorned by one Mādhava entering her and awakened by another Mādhava, springtime, that forest shone as though the goddess of beauty herself had come to behold Him. (16)

The forest delighted all Hari's senses. She thrilled to the sweet fifth-note melodies of humming bees and birds and overflowed with juice from clusters of ripe fruits. Blooming lotus pools smiled playfully; foremost creepers became dancers; and hosts of breezes, masters of graceful dance, filled her with joy. (17)

The trees honored their guest Hari: their flowers were smiles, their bees were songs, their leaves were dances, their honey was drink, and their fruits were food. (18)

The rows of creepers also revealed their service in seclusion. Their flower faces were kissed by bee-singers; their lovely smiles appeared and disappeared beneath veils of tender leaves; and they performed graceful dances. (19)

Hari saw the restless glances of the does, who stood beside their mates with mouthfuls of grass, drawn by the flute's sound. Those glances brought Rādhā's sidelong looks upon the path of His memory, pierced His vital core, and caused Him pain. (20)

At the sight of Kṛṣṇa, a nearby company of intoxicated peacocks danced in love among rows of delighted peahens. Their splendid feathers at once reminded Murāri of the lustrous mass of Rādhā's hair, loosened in love-play. (21)

The sweet calls of amorous kalaviṅka birds, intoxicated kadamba birds, and cranes upon the lake created waves of sound like His beloved's bracelets, armlets, girdle, and anklets. His mind drank that illusion, and He thought She had arrived. (22)

Again and again Kṛṣṇa saw a slightly opened lotus filled with exquisite fragrance and topped by a restless bee. Thinking it His beloved's lotus-scented face, with dark sidelong glance amid a smile, He believed that She had come near. (23)

Wherever He looked He saw pairs of ripe rucaka, karaka, bilva, and orange fruits. Agitated by joy and thirst, His mind mistook them for Her shining breasts, and He wondered whether Rādhikā's body had become all-pervading throughout the forest. (24)

Wherever Hari's gaze fell, the form of some limb of Rādhā appeared. This was no wonder, for to delight Hari the forest of Vraja had assumed Rādhikā's very nature. (25)

Those sights inflamed a multitude of emotions. Hari could not steady His mind, which tossed in their storm like a plume of kāśa grass. (26)

Kṛṣṇa saw Vṛndāvana's moving and unmoving beings overwhelmed with love at the sight of Him. His own heart delighted by love, He rejoiced deeply in them. (27)

Overflowing with love, Hari eagerly questioned everyone He met in the forest: 'Creeper friends, are you well? Tree friends, are you secure? Does good fortune attend you, does and deer? Are you thriving, little birds and larger birds? Are you peaceful, female bees? Are you happy, bees? May the lasting welfare of all moving and unmoving beings be assured.' (28)

Kṛṣṇa spread the hungry cows through Govardhana's foothills to graze. While repeatedly calling back His mind as it ran after His beloved, He sported with His friends. (29)

Neither the familiar games of His own invention nor the forest's beauty could enable Hari to restrain His mind, which raced toward Rādhā, scorched by separation. (30)

Kṛṣṇa saw that His friends were tired and hungry from their games and mutual wrestling and now wished to eat. His heart softened with compassion, and He desired to feed them. (31)

Just then Dhaniṣṭhā arrived with maidservants carrying the food cooked in ghee that Lalitā and the others had prepared that morning and Mother Yaśodā had sent, together with ripe mangoes. (32)

Delighted to see her, Hari asked, 'Dhaniṣṭhe, are My parents well? Did they bathe properly and worship the Lord? Tell Me, after satisfying everyone, did they eat?' (33)

She replied, 'For Your welfare, both bathed, worshiped the Lord, and honored the brāhmaṇas. After feeding everyone, they ate, and then sent this food to You.' (34)

Hari's vine of thought longed for a support by which to climb the tree of Rādhā's company, and it regarded Dhaniṣṭhā as that supreme support. (35)

With the sound of His flute He gathered the herds wandering here and there. Accompanied by His friends, He went to water them while setting the celestial Gaṅgā of His thoughts in motion. (36)

After giving the cows cool, sweet, crystal-clear water to drink, the cowherd boys themselves drank, bathed, and played in the water for a long time. (37)

On the nearby sandy bank Kṛṣṇa seated His friends around Him and fed them that food with yogurt, buttermilk, ripe mango preparations, pickled mangoes, and other dishes. Eating with them, He made the food delicious through His company and kept them laughing. (38)

Then Hari told His friends, 'Companions, graze the cows ahead for a little while. I shall wander here with two friends to behold the springtime beauty of the forest.' (39)

Dhaniṣṭhā told the maidservants, 'Take all the dishes and go quickly. I shall gather flowers for Nārāyaṇa's worship and come afterward.' (40)

Vṛndā returned carrying a pair of blossoming fragrant flowers suitable for ear ornaments and placed them in Kṛṣṇa's hand. (41)

Their sight awakened in Hari a yearning memory of His beloved's radiance, and His hand trembled. Madhumaṅgala took the flowers from that hand and placed them upon Kṛṣṇa's ears. (42)

Finding in Vṛndā, Dhaniṣṭhā, Subala, and Madhumaṅgala ministers who understood the six measures of policy and were skilled in every expedient, Kṛṣṇa felt He had attained the supreme kingdom of embracing Rādhā's body. (43)

Taking Madhumaṅgala's hand in His left hand, Kṛṣṇa went with Vṛndā, Dhaniṣṭhā, and Subala to the Flower Lake. (44)

The Flower Lake shone with bowers and pathways of flowering trees and vines and rang with the commotion of flocks of land and water birds. Seeing it, Kṛṣṇa became eager for Rādhā's arrival and consulted His companions about how to bring Her there. (45)

'If Vṛndā, Subala, or Madhumaṅgala goes to Rādhā, the suspicious Jaṭilā may quarrel with them or confine her daughter-in-law inside the house.' (46)

'If I employ My all-attracting flute, every cowherd girl will come. Then the rasa of the pastimes I desire could not be fulfilled because of their mutual jealousy, pride, offended dignity, and contrariness.' (47)

'Therefore, Dhaniṣṭhe, go to Kundavallī. Jaṭilā trusts her; she is always clever at deceiving the elder and affectionate toward Us. If asked, she will certainly bring Rādhā.' (48)

Vṛndā then said, 'What You have said is true. But if one of Rādhā's friends has come here to gather flowers, we should first learn news of Her from that friend.' (49)

Just then Tulasī arrived with her companion. She rejoiced to see before her Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by His two friends and the two sakhīs, absorbed in devising a way for His beloved to come. (50)

Because Tulasī never leaves Rādhā's side even in a dream, they all joyfully concluded that Rādhā must have come with her. Mādhava grew eager to see Her and fixed His gaze upon the path. (51)

Delighted, Tulasī placed the garland in Madhumaṅgala's hand. Then she opened the little packet and gave the betel rolls to Subala. (52)

The wondrous garland exhaled a fragrance enriched by Rādhā's hand and displayed the fullness of Her artistic skill, attracting swarms of bees. On seeing it, Hari became transported. (53)

Smiling, Śrī Madhumaṅgala placed the vaijayantī garland around Kṛṣṇa's neck. At its touch His body erupted in horripilation, as though from the joy of Rādhā's hand touching Him. (54)

Mukunda imagined that His beloved had arrived and was hiding in the grove in playful jest. His heart agitated by longing to see Her face, He conversed with the laughing Tulasī. (55)

'Is your friend well?' 'She is well, O lord of sakhīs.' 'Where is she?' 'At home.' 'Why has She not come to the forest? Did Her elder assign Her some task? What is She doing?' 'Churning a water pot.' 'What happened then? Was She scolded and confined at home? Bring Her here by some device.' 'Vṛndā cannot deceive Jaṭilā.' 'Alas! Fie upon fate!' (56)

Because the sense that Rādhā was exceedingly difficult to attain was always manifest within Him, He took even that joking statement as true. Overcome by love, He became despondent. (57)

Seeing Kṛṣṇa dejected, Tulasī herself became anxious. Rebuked by the glances of Vṛndā and Dhaniṣṭhā, she hurriedly spoke. (58)

'Joy of Vraja, do not grieve! I would give myself to ward away the evil eye from You. Know that Your beloved has arrived. I was only joking.' (59)

Hearing that She had arrived, the son of Vraja's king longed to see Her, His mind restless with eagerness. Joyfully He removed the pair of campaka flowers from His ears, placed them in Tulasī's hands, and spoke. (60)

'Where is She? Where is She? Why is She hidden? If She is angry, I have committed no offense. If this is another joke, it is unkind to My afflicted heart. Ah, quickly show Me My beloved!' (61)

Knowing the realities of time, place, and purpose, and wishing quickly to bring Rādhā, Tulasī addressed Hari, who longed to behold His beloved. (62)

'Lotus-eyed One, Your beloved longs to see Your face. Jaṭilā has just sent Her with Kundavallī to worship the sun. As She came, She first sent me here to learn news of You. Tell me the play grove to which I should bring Her.' (63)

Hearing this, Hari's heart breathed freely and filled with joy. He removed the guñjā necklace from His neck and gave it to Tulasī as a reward. (64)

Then, to arrange the pastime grove, Vṛndā looked toward Kṛṣṇa and told Tulasī, 'Bring Rādhikā from the bank of Her lake quickly to the grove named Kandarpa-keli-sukhada, Giver of Joy in Love's Play.' (65)

'Friend, eager to assemble all the articles for Their play, I too shall go quickly with you to Rādhā-kuṇḍa.' (66)

Meanwhile Śaibyā had stationed her dear companion Candrāvalī at the appointed place and came to bring the son of Vraja's king. She placed upon Hari's chest the guñjā necklace her friend had given Him, but when she saw Tulasī with Vṛndā her disturbed heart became distressed. (67)

Seeing Rādhā's dearest friend Tulasī speaking with Vṛndā before Kṛṣṇa, Śaibyā concluded that Rādhā had arrived. Distressed, she then addressed Tulasī with a pretext. (68)

'My friend is celebrating the great concluding festival of her vow to Durgā today. She has sent me to invite Rādhā.' (69)

'I have searched today but found Her neither at home nor in the forest. Fortunately I have found you, Tulasī. Tell me, where is your friend?' (70)

Recognizing that Śaibyā had resorted to cunning, Tulasī answered her with equal cunning, for policy prescribes guile toward the guileful. (71)

'Today Her friend Śyāmalā, who is celebrating a great festival for her vow to Ambikā, invited Rādhā and took Her away. The queen of Vṛndāvana also went to Śyāmalā's home and courteously entrusted the responsibility for the forest's offerings to her whole circle of friends.' (72)

'Lalitā therefore sent me to fetch Vṛndā so that there may be abundant flowers, fruits, and garlands. I have collected her and am now leaving.' (73)

Having thus cleverly deceived even the crooked Śaibyā, Tulasī departed with Vṛndā and Dhaniṣṭhā, outwardly indifferent to Mādhava. (74)

Kṛṣṇa wished to say more to Śaibyā, but a bent-eyed warning restrained Him. As though displaying His own indifference toward Tulasī, He spoke. (75)

'Say nothing more; let her go. Tell Me whether your friend is well. Where is My beloved Candrāvalī, and what is She doing?' (76)

Overjoyed, Śaibyā replied, 'Although Her mother-in-law had confined Her, I carefully brought Candrāvalī out under the pretext of worshiping Durgā.' (77)

'I left Her near Sakhī-sthalī, overwhelmed by longing for Your company and guarded by Padmā, then hurried here to find You.' (78)

Hari grew anxious inwardly but displayed delight outwardly. Thinking quickly, He spoke so as to deceive Śaibyā while seeming to please her. (79)

'Friend, I long to see Her. By good fortune you have brought Her. Lead Her to Gaurī-tīrtha, a place suitable for deceiving the elders.' (80)

'After setting My friends to watch the cows, I shall come once I have moved the herd through the forest region called Pramada-rādhā.' Verses 80-81 form one utterance. (81)

Then Madhumaṅgala addressed Him with a meaningful hint: 'Kṛṣṇa, quickly do what Vrajendra instructed through Dhaniṣṭhā.' (82)

Kṛṣṇa replied, 'Yes, noble sir. Early this morning Vasudeva sent a messenger here: Kaṁsa has secretly dispatched cattle thieves into the forest.' (83)

'“All the cowherds must therefore remain vigilant.” Dhaniṣṭhā has just brought Me this command from My revered father.' Verses 83-84 form one explanation. (84)

'Friend, if those obstacles happen to delay Me, do not be anxious. I shall certainly come quickly.' (85)

Having deceived Śaibyā in this way, Murāri hurried with His friends toward the cows. Delighted, she too hastened back to Candrāvalī. (86)

Thus the Sixth Sarga, following the forenoon pastimes, has now come to its close in Govinda-līlāmṛta, a poem born from service to Śrī Rūpa, the honeybee at Śrī Caitanya's lotus feet; composed by the fortunate Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa; arisen in the company of Śrī Jīva; and radiant through Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa.