Seventeenth Sarga: Midday Pastimes

At Śrī Rādhā's prompting, Vṛndā gently comforted the parrot until he regained his composure and then instructed him to describe Kṛṣṇa's qualities. Together with the śārikā, he spoke and delighted the assembly. (1)

'Though even great poets cannot enter the ocean of Ajita's qualities, wretched as I am, I desire to lick it with my tongue. Although the ripe lāṅgalī fruit cannot be pierced, a greedy parrot still touches it repeatedly with his beak.' (2)

'I seek to draw down the sun with my hand, split Mount Sumeru with my head, and cross the great ocean with my arms, for, shameless as I am, I intend to describe Hari's qualities.' (3)

'Every tongue purified by touching even a particle of Hari's qualities becomes a true connoisseur and can never again relish talk of anything else. How could a flock of cuckoos nourished by tasting the first buds of the mango tree find flavor in a neem bud?' (4)

'Garga told the lord of Vraja, "This child is equal to Nārāyaṇa in all these qualities." By those very words he declared that the moon of Gokula's qualities are infinite and supremely auspicious, and that His greatness, gravity, and other virtues are immeasurable.' (5)

'The qualities of the conqueror of demons, such as parental affection for His devotees and submission to their love, are infinite and cannot be counted. Because those He protects are countless and His magnificent deeds arise without cease, not even one of those qualities can be fully enumerated.' (6)

'His form is the ornament of ornaments; His ever-fresh youth stands at the midpoint of adolescence; His valor makes a mountain boulder into a play ball; and His spotless pastimes enchant the universe. His generosity extends to giving His very self, His compassion inundates everyone, and His fame purifies the world. How can Kṛṣṇa ever be described upon this earth?' (7)

'That adolescence, that treasury of virtues, that assembly of cowherd girls, that splendor of dress, that sweetness, that play of Love, that cleverness, that pure rasa, and that beauty of restlessness all became fruitful by being accepted by the glorious son of the cowherd king.' (8)

'From all of Śrī Kṛṣṇa's limbs comes the fragrance of blue lotuses anointed with musk; from His armpits, brows, hips, and hair comes that of pārijāta flowers and blue lotuses gleaming with aguru; and from His nose, navel, face, hands, feet, and eyes comes that of lotuses anointed with camphor. Waves of this excellent nectarean fragrance spread everywhere and inundate the world.' (9)

'Hari's qualities captivate the assembly of gopīs; the gopīs' hearts are inundated with love; that love steals Hari's senses and mind; and Hari comes completely under its control.' (10)

'The sound of the flute drew the cowherd women; when the gopīs arrived, the great rāsa festival arose; through that festival the Lord's fullness became manifest; and from His fullness the whole world became filled with happiness.' (11)

'Murāri once shone upon the lord of Vraja's chest like a garland of blue-lotus petals. How could all His qualities, which even a thousand mouths could never count, fit within that small body?' (12)

'His mother beheld the universe within His body, and the mountain in His hand became like a lotus. Yet, astonishingly, the joys arising from the sight of Śrī Rādhikā's lotus face could not be contained within Hari's own face.' (13)

'Rādhā saw Her own form reflected within Aghāsura's enemy's heart amid the surging waters of His flood of beauty. Mistaking the image for another woman asserting herself against Her, She turned away in anger and trembled.' (14)

'Hari's mind, stolen by Śrī Rādhā, who has neither equal nor superior, never runs toward another woman. Does a bee perpetually greedy for the pure honey of a lotus bed desire some other vine?' (15)

'The sun is naturally hot, the moon cool, the earth all-enduring, the wind restless, a saint composed, and the ocean deep. In just the same way, Kṛṣṇa is by nature conquered by love.' (16)

'Although Śrī Kṛṣṇa is grave, steadfast in mind, filled with tolerance, gentle, modest, unchanging, and possessed of a body made of bliss, Śrī Rādhā's love renders Him helpless. The emotions born from seeing Her face make Him restless; stricken by Love, He wanders about in bewilderment.' (17)

'Kṛṣṇa's qualities steal from afar even the minds of Ramā and the other goddesses, though their minds are bound by composure and duty. If even they reach such a condition, what can be said of the women of Vraja, whose hearts are softened by love?' (18)

'In their worship of Kṛṣṇa, the beautiful-browed women of Vraja transformed their perspiration, horripilation, respectful nectarean words, fragrance, and gentle smiles into water for His feet, arghya, water for sipping, perfume, and flowers. The nectar of their embraces and other pastimes became His food offering, and the nectar of their lips became His betel.' (19)

'Those whose hearts are filled with longing know Kṛṣṇa as the lord of generosity; the distressed know Him as the king of compassion; young women know Him as Kandarpa; enemies as death; true devotees as their sovereign; and the people of Vraja as their own natural kinsman. Thus different people perceive Him in many different ways.' (20)

'By turning toward Him, even a dog-eater becomes a brāhmaṇa; by turning away, even a brāhmaṇa becomes an outcaste. His love becomes nectar to His lovers, while even modesty can become deadly kālakūṭa poison. His fame makes devotees take on Kṛṣṇa's own hue and renders every person pure. In separation from Him the moon is fire, while fire becomes nectar. I bow to that Kṛṣṇa.' (21)

'The foremost poets still sing day and night of the hosts of cruel deeds committed by Hari's enemies, beginning with Pūtanā, whom He killed, together with His own abundant qualities headed by humor and compassion.' (22)

'Friend, this is not Aghāsura's enemy's body but a dark river. This is not His face but a lotus; those are not His eyes but blue lotuses; and that is not an array of curls but a swarm of bees. Why do your two greedy eyes race toward Him?' (23)

'Love first entered the minds of Vraja's beautiful-browed women and produced many transformations. Only afterward did the skillfully extended sound of the cowherd king's son's flute enter them.' (24)

'May the sweet warbling of Gokula's moonlike Kṛṣṇa's flute be victorious. It awakens desire, steals the treasure of composure, destroys fear of society, uproots duty, and draws the lotus-eyed girls from their husbands' laps. It makes immovable things tremble and flowing rivers become still.' (25)

'Many blessed persons in this world shine with jewels of qualities, rasa, pastimes, and majesty. People, speak and tell us: who is the mine from which all those jewels arise? The greatest sages have concluded that it is the son of Vraja's lord alone.' (26)

'The gopīs, overwhelmed by love for Kṛṣṇa, addressed His flute: "Hard-hearted flute, under the guise of sound, pour upon us either a stream of poison or nectar. Friend, grant us either life or death, but do not impose this unbearable, tormented condition between the two."' (27)

'How astonishing that the foolish demons hate Kṛṣṇa: though desiring enjoyment, they hate the fulfiller of every desire; though greedy for wealth, the giver of every treasure; though thirsty for happiness, happiness itself; and though eager for dominion, the Lord of the universe.' (28)

'A certain young doe-eyed girl, her whole being steeped in streams of the nectar of His pastimes, remained within her own home yet saw Kṛṣṇa vividly beside her, His hand resting upon her shoulder. When an elder woman appeared before her, she fearfully cried, "Beloved, move away! She has come here and is looking at us."' (29)

'Murāri is deep with every virtue, courageous enough to lift the mountain, naturally disposed to give all happiness, and able to wash away every pain. This beautiful ever-youthful boy steals the hearts and eyes of the universe, and He has sunk deep within the hearts of even the most virtuous young women.' (30)

'Hari took the lives of His hateful enemies, forcibly took Indra's sacrifice, and took away the serpent Kāliya's dwelling place. Yet by those very acts He bestowed the highest good upon them all.' (31)

'When Hari returned from Rādhā's home in the morning, the rows of lac marks upon His mineral-painted forehead and the proud impressions of Her breasts upon His cloud-dark chest blended so perfectly with their surroundings that even experts in discreet conduct could not detect them.' (32)

'Kṛṣṇa's wealth of sweetness continually increases together with the exalted wealth of Rādhā's love. Their succession of pastimes in the bowers grows together with the sakhīs' ever-accumulating happiness.' (33)

'The beauty of Kaṁsa's enemy's feet is like lotuses, His charming face like the moon, His graceful brows like a row of bees, and His sweet lower lip like nectar. His lovely restless eyes resemble moving lotuses, His bright teeth kunda flowers, His eloquent speech nectar, and the radiance of His smile moonlight.' (34)

'His beautiful hands resemble fresh shoots, His nails full moons, His cheeks mirrors, and His complexion a new raincloud. Thirsty young women become roaming bees when they see the lotus of His face. To the saintly He acts like the moon, to those who bow like a father, and within the bowers like a splendid palace.' (35)

'Among demons He becomes a thunderbolt, and among beautiful women He becomes Love himself. Nowhere is there a giver equal to Him, a hero comparable to Him, a pastime like His, or anyone who stands as His peer. The doe-eyed girls kiss His lotus face. May that Kṛṣṇa protect us.' (34-36)

'The fresh vines delighted Kṛṣṇa with fruits resembling breasts, flowers resembling smiles, tender shoots like graceful limbs, and reddish leaves like lips.' (37)

'Kṛṣṇa's flute fulfilled every cherished desire, just as yogic perfection fulfills the yogeśvaras, devotion to Viṣṇu fulfills worshipers, and the spiritual potency fulfills Nārāyaṇa.' (38)

'The fame of moonlike Śrī Kṛṣṇa is sweet like a stream of nectar, cooling like moonlight, and purifying to all people like the Gaṅgā.' (39)

'Kṛṣṇa's bodily beauty is incomparable; His sweetness resembles that bodily beauty; His host of qualities resembles that sweetness; and His exquisite coolness resembles that host of qualities.' (40)

'Hari's beloveds are inundated with love; His cleverness is as abundant as His line of beloveds; His supreme connoisseurship of rasa is as rich as His cleverness; and His incomparable playfulness is as boundless as His connoisseurship.' (41)

'Wondrous is the friendship of Subala and Kṛṣṇa's other companions. Understanding His hidden longing, they carefully prepare a bed within a secluded bower, bring His beloved there, and enable Him to delight with Her.' (42)

'Blessed is Vṛndāvana, where Kṛṣṇa sports with the finest young women in every grove, upon every riverbank, and within every mountain cave.' (43)

'Cosmetics transferred to Hari through contact with His beloved's body cling to His lotus feet and then fall upon the grass. The Pulinda women gather them and smear them upon their hearts, thereby casting off the anguish born from their longing to hear His flute song and behold His face.' (44)

'Vṛndāvana is supremely sacred, for there the rows of vines delight Kṛṣṇa with their flower-smiles, fruit-breasts, and abundant tender-shoot limbs.' (45)

'The mountain caves shone with the fierce widows of the demons slain by Hari, who hid there with Pulinda men. Nourished and satisfied by feasts of food and erotic pleasure, those women praised Śrī Hari by singing of His stainless qualities.' (46)

'Kaṁsa once proudly reassured the demons who had conquered even Indra: "While we are here, you need not fear this insignificant child." Yet when all those demons were reduced to a child's helplessness, no one knew where the pride in Kaṁsa's heart had gone.' (47)

'Kṛṣṇa's qualities are infinite, His pastimes infinite, and His glory infinite. We touch only a particle of each to purify our own speech, never with any intention of counting them.' (48)

Thus the śārikā and parrot repeatedly plunged beneath and rose from the ocean of descriptions of Hari's qualities, their hearts blossoming. By continuing to praise those qualities, they petitioned their own Lord and Lady for their cherished boon. (49)

Now begins Śrī Kṛṣṇa-candrāṣṭakam, Eight Verses to Moonlike Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

'The magnificence of His complexion puts clouds, black ointment, and sapphires to shame. His radiant garment shines like a sun and lightning rising through kuṅkuma. His beautiful limbs are anointed with cooling yellow and dark sandalwood. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (50)

'His makara earrings are supremely expert dancers upon His cheeks, and the disk of His face shatters the pride of the moon and hosts of lotuses. He increases the bonds of His own hidden emotions among the cowherd girls. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (51)

'His form, dress, inner feelings, pastimes, and gestures are eternally fresh. He is surrounded by friends who give Him joy through playful jokes, and the splendor of His own pastime forest surpasses Indra's Nandana garden. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (52)

'He rejoices in intimate friendships adorned with the gold of love, while rows of guardians of the worlds bow before Him with their foreheads touching the earth. At all times He honors and bows to the venerable brāhmaṇas established by sacred tradition. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (53)

'In play He subdued Indra and slew Kāliya's allies, Kaṁsa, Vatsāsura, and the other enemies. The showers of His own varied pastimes nourish His cātaka-like devotees, and His valor, character, and play delight the residents of His cowherd settlement. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (54)

'With the wine of His bower and rāsa pastimes He satisfies Rādhikā and Her companions, and with the jokes in each of those pastimes He nourishes every sakhī. His love, character, play, and fame delight the hearts of the universe. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (55)

'Through His rāsa pastimes He reveals the true path of pure devotion. His wondrous form and dress enchant whole hosts of Cupids, and He spreads multitudes of emotions through the beautiful corners of the gopīs' eyes. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (56)

'He thirsts to attain the touch of Rādhikā as She gathers flowers and rejoices in the sight of Her beautiful face made contrary by love. Here upon Rādhikā's breast He is the cooling paste called hari-candana. May that son of the cowherd king grant me service to His feet.' (57)

'Whoever praises with these eight verses the beloved of Rādhikā's life, whose very sight is difficult even for the ocean-born goddess Lakṣmī and the others, is joyfully engaged by Him in the cowherd forest in service to His feet, which delight in contact with Rādhikā's limbs.' (58)

Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa-candrāṣṭakam is complete. Now begins Śrī Rādhikāṣṭakam, Eight Verses to Śrī Rādhikā.

'Her fair radiance steals the pride of a golden lotus anointed with kuṅkuma, and Her fragrance defeats the fame of a lotus perfumed with yellow sandalwood. She fulfills every cherished desire of the cowherd king's son. May Rādhikā grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (59)

'Her splendid silk sari puts the radiance of rubies to shame, and She is a blossoming flower garden where the intoxicated bee Kṛṣṇa plays. Rādhikā is the sun that ensures eternal union with Kṛṣṇa. May She grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (60)

'The tenderness of Her body suppresses the fame of rows of newly created shoots, and Her cooling form is served by the moon, sandalwood, blue lotuses, and camphor. Her touch removes the cowherd lord's burning torment of desire. May Rādhikā grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (61)

'Even Ramā, worshiped by all the venerable women of the universe, cannot equal Her wealth of beauty, ever-fresh youth, and other excellences; nor does Ramā surpass Her in character, loving heart, or pastimes. May Rādhikā grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (62)

'She is expert in the rāsa dance, graceful movement, song, humor, and every fine art. She is adorned with love, enchanting beauty and dress, and a host of virtues, and She excels all the young cowherd women in the universe. May Rādhikā grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (63)

'Her eternally fresh beauty, play, and wealth of emotion for Kṛṣṇa make the young cowherd women bound by passion for Him tremble. She remains absorbed in perfect samādhi upon Kṛṣṇa's form, dress, and pastimes. May Rādhikā grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (64)

'She is adorned with the ornaments of emotion: perspiration, trembling, horripilation, tears, faltering speech, indignation, joy, contrariness, and many more. These surpass rows of jeweled ornaments in satisfying Kṛṣṇa's eyes. May Rādhikā grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (65)

'Even half a moment's separation from Kṛṣṇa continuously awakens within Her many emotions such as humility and restlessness, yet when She attains Kṛṣṇa's company after great effort, every affliction departs. May Rādhikā grant me service to Her lotus feet.' (66)

'Whoever praises with these eight verses Kṛṣṇa's beloved, whose very sight is difficult even for Pārvatī and the other goddesses, is quickly made by Her, accompanied by Her delighted sakhīs, a recipient of the nectar of service to Her joyful self in Kṛṣṇa's company.' (67)

Thus Śrī Rādhikāṣṭakam is complete.

Having drunk from the birds' mouths the nectar of descriptions of Kṛṣṇa's host of qualities, the assembly became submerged in a shoreless ocean of bliss. (68)

Thus ends the Seventeenth Sarga, following the midday pastimes, in Govinda-līlāmṛta, a poem born from serving Śrī Rūpa, the honeybee at Śrī Caitanya's lotus feet; revealed through the merit of Śrī Raghunātha Dāsa; arisen in the association of Śrī Jīva; and composed by the excellent Śrī Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa. (17)