Editorial Note, Original Plan, Līlā Garland, and Index of Songs

The Bower of Divine Play (Keli-kuñja).

May Śrī Priyā and Her most beloved Lord be ever victorious.

Editorial Note

The līlās gathered in this volume are the gift of grace bestowed by a saint of the highest relish. At the request of a greatly perfected saint, this rasika saint committed to writing the līlās he had personally experienced for the sake of a sensitive devotee steeped in the mood of Vraja.

Divine Vṛndāvana descends only upon the inner screen of an unfettered saint whose heart is untouched by the shadows of sattva, rajas, and tamas. A saint empty of every thirst for enjoyment - even of desire for liberation - possesses an utterly pure, luminous mind beyond the three guṇas. That very mind becomes transformed into divine Vṛndāvana, the playground of the Lord's deeds, each more wondrous, excellent, and sweet than the last.

Whatever līlās of Śrī Rādhā, the embodiment of mahābhāva, and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the very form of supreme rasa, appear upon that sacred inner ground of the saint's contemplation are so profound, pure, and full of relish that speech cannot adequately point toward them. Indeed, the mystery of such directly experienced līlās is not an object of speech at all. It has always remained beyond words and will remain so forever.

Even those portions that could have been expressed in words were not written down in full. Because the līlās were composed, at a perfected saint's request, for one particular aspirant, the author had to restrain the description and keep the verbal expression within bounds suited to that aspirant's inner capacity. Thus this rasika saint did not record a sufficient portion of all the scenes of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa's supremely nectarean, transcendent līlās that came before his sight, nor of all the conversations that reached his hearing. In truth, how could we claim qualification to read or hear those deeply mysterious portions? Unless people have washed their vision through sustained bhajana, freed it of impurity, filled it with luminous purity, and bathed it in affection, the defects of their own sight prevent them from touching even the outer boundary of these divine līlās' faultlessness, purity, irreproachability, and supernatural character. For this reason many moving episodes remained undescribed, so that the līlās' divinity and holiness might remain inviolate.

Some episodes therefore remained unexpressed, while certain līlās could not be expressed even when expression was desired. The original plan was to write thirty-eight līlās. That full plan is given below. Of those thirty-eight, only twenty-nine could be written, and these are the ones collected in this volume.

From the standpoint of līlā contemplation, the rasika saint also gave occasional indications of the lunar date and time at which a particular līlā should be contemplated. Those directions are reproduced below to assist the practice of līlā-cintana.

The Original Plan and Details of the Līlās That Were Written

Meditation for the First Day

1. The awakening līlā of Śrī Priyā and Her beloved in Lalitā's bower. Title: The Awakening Līlā; sequence 1; page 1.
2. Priyā and Her beloved return to their respective homes and lie down to sleep.
3. Śrī Rādhārānī rises from bed; in Her palace the sakhīs anoint and bathe Her; Lalitā tells Rādhārānī of Citrā's dream. Title: The Bathing Līlā; sequence 2; page 10.
4. The sakhīs adorn Priyā; She worships Tulasī and sets out for Nanda's house.
5. At Nanda's house Priyā cooks for Her beloved Śyāmasundara; He eats; Priyā and the sakhīs honor the remnants moistened by the nectar of His lips; Śyāmasundara leaves for the forest to graze the cows; Priyā returns home.
6. Priyā's journey to the forest. Title: The Līlā of Ardent Love; sequence 3; page 26.
7. Their meeting in Lalitā's bower. Title: The Līlā of Absorption in Emotion; sequence 4; page 40.
8. Śyāmasundara teaches Priyā how to fly a feather toy.
9. The līlā of drinking honey and resting in the bower.
10. Water play in Śrī Rādhākuṇḍa. Title: The Water-Sport Līlā. After reading each līlā, this one should be read at midday on the lunar dates of pratipadā, tṛtīyā, pañcamī, saptamī, navamī, ekādaśī, trayodaśī, amāvasyā, and pūrṇimā.
11. Śyāmasundara adorns Priyā in the bower. Title: The Murmuring-Flute Līlā; sequence 6; page 61.
12. The fruit-meal līlā. Title: The Fruit-Meal Līlā; sequence 7; page 66.
13. Priyā and the sakhīs honor the remnants; there follow Śyāmasundara's teasing and the dispute between the parrots Śuka and Sārī. Title: The Śuka-Sārī Debate Līlā; sequence 8; page 70.
14. The dice-play līlā. Title: The Dice-Play Līlā; sequence 9; page 84.
15. The worship of the Sun. Title: The Sun-Worship Līlā; sequence 10; page 106.
16. Priyā returns from the forest, prepares sweets for Her beloved Śyāmasundara, bathes and dresses, and watches the road for His return from the forest.
17. The arrival līlā. Title: The Arrival Līlā; sequence 11; page 122. It should be read every evening.
18. Mother Yaśodā bathes Śyāmasundara, who then takes a light meal with His friends.
19. Śyāmasundara milks the cows. Title: The Cow-Milking Līlā; sequence 12; page 127.
20. Priyā goes out for Her secret meeting.
21. Priyā waits for Śyāmasundara on the Yamunā's bank, and a mañjarī tells Priyā a story. Title: The Veiling-of-Love Līlā; sequence 13; page 134.
22. The forest excursion. Title: The Night-Watch Līlā; sequence 14; page 145. It should be read at night before sleeping on dvitīyā, pañcamī, aṣṭamī, ekādaśī, and caturdaśī.
23. Sport amid the lotus groves in the Yamunā's waters.
24. The rāsa-līlā on the Yamunā's sandy bank and rest in the bower. Title: The Rāsa-Dance Līlā; sequence 15; page 156. It should be read at night before sleeping on tṛtīyā, ṣaṣṭhī, saptamī, dvādaśī, and pūrṇimā.

Meditation for the Second Day

25. In Viśākhā's bower, Śyāmasundara adorns Priyā. Title: The Adornment Līlā; sequence 16; page 178. It should be read at midday on dvitīyā and daśamī.

Meditation for the Third Day

26. Blindman's buff in Citrā's bower. Title: The Blindman's-Buff Līlā; sequence 17; page 183. It should be read before sleeping on tṛtīyā and ṣaṣṭhī.
27. On the Yamunā's bank Priyā opens Her heart to Śyāmasundara in a surge of sacred emotion. Title: The Līlā of Loving Sulkiness; sequence 18; page 200. It should be read before sleeping on pratipadā, aṣṭamī, daśamī, and the specified yogamayi dates.

Meditation for the Fourth Day

28. The māna-līlā in Indulekhā's bower. Title: The Līlā of Loving Sulkiness; sequence 19; page 213. It should be read at midday on caturthī and dvādaśī.

Meditation for the Fifth Day

29. A picture-dance līlā in Campakalatā's bower; sequence 20; page 223. It should be read at midday on pañcamī and trayodaśī.

Meditation for the Sixth Day

30. Priyā's extraordinary condition as She sits in Raṅgadevī's bower awaiting Śyāmasundara. Title: The Waiting Līlā; sequence 21; page 235. It should be read at midday on ṣaṣṭhī and caturdaśī.

Meditation for the Seventh Day

31. Madhumaṅgala's playful amusement in Tuṅgavidyā's bower. Title: The Amusement Līlā; sequence 22; page 242. It should be read at midday on saptamī and pūrṇimā.

Meditation for the Eighth Day

32. The hiding of the flute in Sudevī's bower. Title: The Hidden-Flute Līlā; sequence 23; page 255.

Meditations for the Ninth through Fourteenth Days

33. Priyā awaits Śyāmasundara in Raṅgadevī's bower. Title: The Collected-Songs Līlā; sequence 24; page 266. It may be read as given; alternatively, one should set aside time each day, and especially on caturdaśī, to read three līlās at a sitting.
34. The wonder of the flute's sound in Raṅgadevī's bower: to fulfill His beloved's wish, Śyāmasundara plays the flute; its sound makes the water of the lake rise greatly, and Priyā and Her beloved become immersed in the swelling water together with the circle of sakhīs. Title: The Flute-Resonance Līlā; sequence 25; page 274.

Meditation for the New-Moon Day

35. Swinging in Tuṅgavidyā's bower. Title: The Swing Līlā; sequence 26; page 282.

Other Līlās

36. Boating upon Śrī Rādhākuṇḍa in the rainy season. Title: The Boat-Pastime Līlā; sequence 27; page 295. It should be read at midday on dvitīyā, caturthī, ṣaṣṭhī, aṣṭamī, daśamī, dvādaśī, and caturdaśī. If possible, it should also be read after each individual līlā.
37. The Dīpāvalī līlā. Title: The Dīpāvalī Līlā; sequence 28; page 292.
38. The yoginī līlā. Title: The Yoginī Līlā; sequence 29; page 302.

Together with these līlās, fifty-five songs collected by the same rasika saint are being published with their meanings under the title Madhupaka. They can prove greatly helpful in līlā contemplation. Every effort has been made to publish all this material without error, yet mistakes are naturally possible. We humbly ask forgiveness for every such deficiency.

Garland of Līlās

1. The Awakening Līlā - 1
2. The Bathing Līlā - 10
3. The Līlā of Ardent Love - 26
4. The Līlā of Absorption in Emotion - 40
5. The Water-Sport Līlā - 51
6. The Murmuring-Flute Līlā - 61
7. The Fruit-Meal Līlā - 66
8. The Debate of Śuka and Sārī - 70
9. The Dice-Play Līlā - 84
10. The Sun-Worship Līlā - 106
11. The Arrival Līlā - 122
12. The Cow-Milking Līlā - 127
13. The Veiling-of-Love Līlā - 134
14. The Night-Watch Līlā - 145
15. The Rāsa-Dance Līlā - 156
16. The Adornment Līlā - 178
17. The Blindman's-Buff Līlā - 183
18. The Māna Līlā - 213
19. The Picture-Dance Līlā - 223
20. The Amusement Līlā - 234
21. The Waiting Līlā - 242
22. The Midnight Līlā - 255
23. The Hidden-Flute Līlā - 266
24. The Collection-of-Songs Līlā - 274
25. The Flute-Resonance Līlā - 282
26. The Swing Līlā - 295
27. The Boat-Pastime Līlā - 302
28. The Dīpāvalī Līlā
29. The Yoginī Līlā
30. Special Notice
31. Madhupaka

Songs in Madhupaka

1. Victory to Rādhā, Rādhā who is the source of every joy.
2. At dawn I stand at the gate of the new bower.
3. I offer myself: what an extraordinary manner She possesses!
4. With joy they perform the auspicious ārati.
5. At the bower gate stands the maiden with Vraja's beloved boy.
6. Her fair body gleams beneath the star-spangled veil.
7. Swaying as She comes from the bower palace.
8. Victory to Śrī Rādhikā, fulfiller of every joy.
9. Friend, the young son of Vraja's king stands there.
10. Remember the graceful dancer, the clever and beautiful Gopāla.
11. Today I offer myself to these two.
12. Behold Śyāma's adornment today.
13. The jasmine maiden is fully adorned.
14. Her turban is fashioned of jasmine blossoms.
15. At early dawn today Rādhikā came to Yaśomatī's house.
16. Mother said, "Dear girl, who taught You to churn?"
17. Love revealed itself and could no longer remain concealed.
18. Beloved, keep coming to this house.
19. The beloved makes Hari milk the cow.
20. As the beloved milked, love increased exceedingly.
21. Beloved, carry the milk-pail upon Your head and come.
22. Princess Rādhikā comes on the pretext of play.
23. Yaśomatī adorns Princess Rādhā.
24. I have become Hari's flute.
25. Rādhā has become Giridhara's partner.
26. The dense bower's shade is enchanting.
27. Hari and Rādhā sit together in Their own delight in the bower palace.
28. The maiden remained gazing without blinking.
29. The enemy eyelids will not let me see.
30. Bent by the wrenching power of Your love, He has become gracefully threefold-curving.
31. As though Your anklets did not ring.
32. Friend, why should we not go see the two standing there?
33. Rādhikā sways today in bliss.
34. They wander along the pathways of the kadamba grove.
35. The beloved pair play dice.
36. Today Your serpent-like braid possesses still greater enchanting beauty.
37. None is as fortunate as Vṛṣabhānu's daughter.
38. Rādhā and Mohana enjoy Their loving play.
39. The darling girl and Her beloved perform the ritual sipping of water.
40. The sakhī lovingly offered a flavorful betel roll.
41. The beloved teaches Her lover to play the vīṇā.
42. Today Gopāla revels in the nectar of the rāsa dance.
43. Rasika Hari and Rādhikā have formed the circle of rāsa.
44. What newly youthful heroine is as accomplished as Rādhikā?
45. Whose nose ornament is so utterly singular?
46. My lotus face blossoms before Yours.
47. Your face is the moon and these eyes are cakora birds.
48. Beloved Rādhā, what do I seem to You?
49. Beloved, You dwell within my eyes.
50. Friend, how beautifully Nandakumāra is adorned today.
51. His wagtail-bird eyes are intoxicated by the nectar of beauty.
52. Now the time for reclining has come.
53. O playful beloved, You are delightfully restless.
54. Mohanalāla presses Her feet.
55. Blessed, blessed is what He does for the darling girl.

Index of Songs

1. Swaying as She comes from the bower palace.
2. Today She had gone to the bower.
3. A certain dark-complexioned maiden has come this way.
4. Friend, today and tomorrow, let the two of us abandon all worldly shame.
5. I offer myself to clever Śyāma.
6. Who can know the message carried by my go-between?
7. Delighted, sulking, secretly smiling, She rose laughing.
8. First behold the proud beloved arriving in the full splendour of Her bearing.
9. I would offer millions of lives; I would offer the moon of nectar that is Her smile.
10. Having bowed deeply, never again shall I act toward You in such a way.
11. Place your meditation upon Rādhikā's neck.
12. Every ornament shines delightfully; come quickly from the forest.
13. You are my adornment; You are my very life.
14. In secret intimacy, awareness awakens within the heart.
15. Nandalāla dwells within my eyes.
16. Beloved, do not give ear to such words.
17. Let us go to that land, beloved; beyond this shore, let us go to that other land.
18. Moon of the new bower, moonlight of Vṛṣabhānu's lineage.
19. Friend, I am dyed in Śyāma's colour.
20. Beloved, what dealings are these of Your eyes?
21. Friend, now I am dyed in the colour of that beauty.
22. Make the corners of the eyes into cakora birds.
23. Show me the peacock-crowned Lord, the supreme dancer.
24. Look, friend, behold the clever dancer!
25. Friend, you are greatly fortunate.
26. How shall I go, dear friend, to fill the water pot?
27. A certain moon has settled within my eyes.
28. Beloved Rādhā, hear this one plea of mine.
29. Victory to the ever-new, clever heroine, the ocean of Kṛṣṇa's joy, the mine of every virtue, humble and innocent.
30. I have been deeply delighted indeed.
31. My heart has become fixed upon Giridhara's beauty.
32. The blow received from Śyāma was terribly painful.
33. Princess Rādhikā, speaking and speaking, became utterly helpless.
34. O mad one, who has struck you with that dart?
35. Let me gather in my cupped hands the brilliance of Śyāma's form and the nectar of His lips.
36. The leftward, contrary mistress of the secluded bower.
37. Someone bring me news of the beloved from that side.
38. Mother, I would offer millions of Love-gods to Mohana's lotus face.
39. O mind, do not be swept away again and again.
40. My heart weighs itself against Śyāma's beauty.
41. The clever heroine questions her clever beloved.
42. His lips are sweet; His face is sweet.
43. Keep the two of us together; let me take my beloved along.
44. I have no appetite for food.
45. Your face is the moon, and my eyes are cakora birds.