Fifth Sarga: Delighting in the Journey to the Beloved's Home

Fifth Sarga: Delighting in the Journey to the Beloved's Home.

Rādhā said, 'Friend, your sudden appearance before Me announces the favor of the queen of Vraja. At midnight no extraordinary splendor reaches the eastern horizon without the cool-rayed moon.' (1)

'I therefore infer that, under the guise of an instruction, she has sent Me some indescribable nectar of mercy. Without obtaining it, My distressed self considers even its own continued presence within this body harmful.' (2)

'Rasa-filled girl, I know that your journey was surely made so I might prepare the kitchen. Otherwise, why did you first hurry from here to conciliate My respected mother-in-law?' (3)

Drinking the nectar spoken by beautiful-eyed Rādhā, Kundavallī replied with a lovely smile, 'Then, dear friend, depart for that place at once with Your circle of sakhīs. Do not delay here.' (4)

'What slight difficulty could there be in gaining the elders' permission? By showers of incomparable wealth, cows, and grain, the queen of Vraja has already brought them fully under her influence. (5)

'The son of Vraja's king is dearer without condition than millions of lives to every resident of the cowherd settlement. Who here could oppose anything He greatly desires? (6)

'Friend, when His mother desires to obtain something exceptionally pleasing for Him, she knows nothing of proper or improper, personal gain or loss, differences between one's own and another's wishes, or honor and dishonor. (7)

'Whatever You cook always surpasses divine nectar, and whoever eats it also surpasses the nectar-drinkers. This is exceedingly famous throughout every settlement. Whom would it not utterly astonish? (8)

'Excellent lotus-eyed girl, from the moment Yaśodā learned that the great sage had blessed You, she has never allowed her son to pass a single day without eating food prepared by Your hands. (9)

'His body is so tender, yet He defeats terrible hosts of demons bent on overpowering Him. Yaśodā believes that eating food cooked by Your stainless hands is the sole cause of His victories. (10)

'Rādhe, hear a still deeper truth that I suddenly perceived within her heart: moon-faced girl, Yaśodā suffers each day without seeing You just as she suffers without seeing her own son. (11)

Rādhā replied, 'Learned friend, what you say is not entirely unreasonable. Yet for women renowned as respectable, going into the courtyard of another household is plainly improper.' (12)

'And your brother-in-law does not maintain freedom from attraction toward respectable young women even for a moment. No, no! I have no desire to go there.' Kundavallī then answered beautiful-eyed Rādhā again. (13)

'Beautiful-thighed friend, my brother-in-law appears wanton only through His captivating beauty, just as You have said. With You, however, He will remain thoroughly attached and never act wantonly. Trust me and come freely.' (14)

'It is fitting that You regard even the courtyard near Kṛṣṇa's house as another's courtyard. Yet when He sees You, He trembles intensely, for He recognizes You not as another's woman but as the Lady of His own courtyard.' (15)

Rādhā said again, 'Stop this rashness! I shall not go, learned girl, and do not insist. Should I proudly set foot upon the path of wishing to abandon the virtue of a respectable young woman?' (16)

Kundavallī replied, 'Friend, do not extend that plea. Your cherished desire will quickly be fulfilled in abundance. Go now and do not delay, for the great sage's blessing itself favors You.' (17)

As Kundavallī laughed at these words, old Jatilā suddenly approached and said, 'Virtuous Kundalate, you have always been worthy of my trust, so I place this girl in your care.' (18)

'For a chaste woman, even taking one step from her husband's house to any other place is improper. How much more improper is it to approach the foe of Baka, who is famous for being exceedingly wanton? (19)

'Nevertheless, Rādhe, even with all my prudence I am instructing You to go. The sole reason is that one may not transgress the repeated words of all-knowing Paurṇamāsī. (20)

'How many times can we refuse the request of Vraja's queen, rooted in her long pleading, humility, and conciliation? Therefore may blessed Hari Himself be Your protector. (21)

'The Lord of the world protects this entire creation; would He abandon chaste women who guard their own duty? Beautiful-faced girl, I shall therefore place You in His hand and become free of anxiety.' (22)

The sakhīs skillfully concealed the smiles rising at the old elder's words. With a gesture from the corner of Her widening dark eyes, Rādhā silently told them something, and then She too became quiet. (23)

Before Jatilā, Rādhā repeatedly acted out extreme unwillingness. After the old woman entreated Her, She departed with Lalitā and the other sakhīs, inwardly bowing to favorable Providence. (24)

As She left Her residence, the flashes of beauty from Her body, garments, and ornaments transformed the town lane into a golden path inlaid with varied jewels, while Her fragrance filled every direction. (25)

Whenever crowds moved to and fro, She turned slightly away and kept to one side of the path. Lowering Her eyes and silencing Her lotus face, She assumed the sweetness of a veil drawn over it. (26)

At times, upon some deserted stretch of road, She walked amid the vivid delight of the friends' playful conversation and did not even become aware of where She had come from or where She was going. (27)

A friend said, 'Friend, the place near the house of Vraja's king has appeared not far ahead of You. Understand now that the longing of Your cātaka-like eyes will very soon bear fruit.' (28)

The mere utterance of these words made trembling and stunned ecstasy overwhelm Rādhā's body. Kundavallī forcibly supported Her, tried to restore Her awareness, and at once said something to Her. (29)

'Beautiful-faced girl, why are You distressed already, when the moon Kṛṣṇa has not even entered the path of Your eyes? I now understand the full extent of Your chastity, and the assembly of Your own friends is the proof.' (30)

'Helpless girl, although You cannot hold steadiness within Your heart, maintain it for just a moment. Today I must unite You with Giridhara so He may support the weight of Your two mountains.' (31)

Lalitā replied, 'Ignorant girl! This supremely chaste friend of mine became distressed merely from fear of Giridhara's direction, yet you forcibly slander Her. Alas, will you now appoint Him to attend upon Her?' (32)

Kundavallī answered Lalitā, 'Since the respected elder repeatedly entrusted Her to you, it is proper that you now arrange what is auspicious. Friend, do not regard another person as different from yourself.' (33)

'Enough of this talk. Look just ahead, not far away, near the city gateway. Upon the fresh paved terrace of a crystal structure adorned with jewels stands the one person desired by Rādhā's heart.' (34)

'Look! At dawn He joyfully milked the abundantly yielding cows and sported in the wrestling arena with His companions. Hearing that your friend was coming, His heart became agitated, and He came here and now shines before us. (35)

'He is embraced by a circle of radiance skilled in driving the young women of Vraja mad. Has the sheer weight of His sweetness bent His body in three places? His swinging garland intoxicates the bees. (36)

'His two eyes, expert in the tāṇḍava dance, seem intent on teaching His earrings as they rest against His tender cheeks. Waves of golden and blue radiance from His wind-tossed cloth and limbs have made every direction motionless. (37)

'His left arm, radiant enough to shame a rising elephant's trunk, rests upon the shoulder of His dear friend Subala. His other hand is wholly absorbed in twirling a play lotus defeated by His own beauty. Behold how He reigns!' (38)

Rādhā made Her two ears and eyes into drinking cups and drank both Kundavallī's words and Kṛṣṇa's sweetness of form. When profound bewilderment overtook Her, His spreading fragrance quickly restored Her awareness. (39)

Though filled with horripilation, trembling, and streaming tears, She gathered Her composure and said, 'Friend, is there another path? My feet will not move before Him. What shall I do?' (40)

Her companion instructed Her, 'Your submission to the elders is itself expert in removing every fault, so what need is there for fear or shame?' Awakened by these words, Rādhā desired to move very gently before Him. (41)

The great sweetness surging from Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa's mutual glance had an incomparable current, and the sakhīs submerged themselves within it. Even the goddess of speech is unable to describe what occurred. (42)

Thirsty moon-faced Rādhā repeatedly drank the moonlight meant for the cakora Kṛṣṇa, destroyer of Agha. Yet, wonderfully, as a cātakī bird She also showered boundless rasa upon the cloud Giridhara. (43)

Each girl skillfully raised her left hand to hold the veil upon her head. With the corners of their lowered eyes they tasted the nectar of their beloved's lotus feet, then passed before Him. (44)

Hari turned and stood with His lotus gaze fixed upon the radiance of Rādhā's hips. After the row of beautiful young women crossed His gateway, they loosened their veils slightly. (45)

Tuṅgavidyā teased Rādhā, 'Friend, seeing You filled Him with joy, and Madhumaṅgala at once made Him happy with a campaka garland. Did you understand what the young brāhmaṇa was signaling?' (46)

With a gently blossoming smile and circling brows, Rādhā replied, 'You have inferred according to what you yourself are, for you strive to make other women resemble you.' She then quickly entered the great palace. (47)

Its walls were fashioned from crystal, its roofs shone with excellent gold, and its doors were fitted with diamond bolts. Rows of jeweled women holding lamps and jeweled vines, trees, and birds beautified its gateways. (48)

Golden upper chambers bore jeweled vessels lit by the sun's rays, banners, and dancing artificial peacocks upon their summits. Rich in beauty and prosperity, the bliss-giving collection of residences surpassed even the city of the gods. (49)

Balarāma's residence stood in the north, and the cowherd king's treasury in the west. In the east, eminent brāhmaṇas worshiped Nanda's chosen deity, Lord Nārāyaṇa, within a jeweled temple. (50)

Aghāri Kṛṣṇa's sleeping chamber stood toward the south, its upper pavilion gleaming with sapphires. In every intermediate direction shone secluded gardens upon the banks of ponds belonging to the several inner apartments. (51)

When Yaśodā saw Rādhā approach with Her sakhīs and illuminate the residence, she joyfully regarded Vṛṣabhānu's daughter as the one goddess of fortune of all three worlds rising before her. (52)

Rādhā bowed humbly at her feet. Yaśodā swiftly embraced Her and smelled Her head, then flooded Her in a river of joyful nectar filled solely by a shower of teardrops from her eyes. (53)

'Moon-faced girl, may You live victoriously for a hundred autumns and always delight my mind and eyes.' Speaking thus, Yaśodā, a vine of incomparable maternal affection, also brought happiness to Rādhā's lovely sakhīs as they bowed before her. (54)

Her heart melting, Yaśodā made Rādhā sit with Her friends and gently forced Her to eat a few soft, sweet modakas and other treats served by Dhaniṣṭhā. After fondling Her profusely, she led Her to the kitchen. (55)

'Lotus-faced girl, the sole glory of Kīrtidā, the Creator has made You expert in the art of cooking. Enter the kitchen, then, and prepare the meal while Lalitā and the other sakhīs perform their assigned tasks. (56)

'Here You shine as Lakṣmī herself. By merely casting this glance throughout my compound, You cause every residence always to overflow with many forms of prosperity. Know this with certainty. (57)

'Look over every ingredient here and, with Dhaniṣṭhā, immediately take from the storerooms whatever excellent things You know from instruction and experience to be useful for the many preparations.' (58)

Having given these loving instructions, Yaśodā departed to summon her son and oversee His bath and other needs. The sakhīs engaged in their respective duties, while the maidservants prepared to assist them. (59)

Rādhā washed Her hands and feet and removed the necklaces, rings, and other ornaments unsuited to cooking. After bowing to Balarāma's mother Rohiṇī, She shone as She entered the fragrant kitchen. (60)

Rohiṇī said, 'Child, You delight in skillful cooking. Prepare everything exactly as it appears within Your mind. Until now I have cooked only because I wished to relieve Your heavy burden.' (61)

Rādhā lowered Her lotus face. Rohiṇī quickly embraced and fondled Her like her own daughter, then gently but firmly seated Her upon a platform spread with a white cloth. (62)

Before Her stood rows of stoves surrounded by fires of aguru, pine, and deodar wood, with many vessels set upon them for properly preparing numerous kinds of curries and accompaniments. (63)

As She tended the fires, lifted and lowered the vessels, seasoned the food, stirred with ladles, and performed the other tasks, Her three folds, breasts, arms, and shoulders trembled and Her cloth fluttered, producing an immense sweetness. (64)

From a bright lattice window in His own residence, Acyuta fixed His gaze upon Her and drank that abundance of sweetness. Revealing Cupid's rising pride, clever Kṛṣṇa addressed Madhumaṅgala with some pretext. (65)

Rādhā placed the exceedingly sweet sound of Her beloved's voice within the two cups of Her ears and became wholly absorbed in it. Her mind was drawn away from the cooking procedures, yet through long-practiced skill She still prepared everything perfectly. (66)

Her sakhīs, eager to hear His words, moved rapidly here and there while pretending to be busily engaged in their duties. Casting quick sidelong glances toward Him, they clearly communicated His cherished desire to Rādhā. (67)

Thus ends the Fifth Sarga, entitled 'Delighting in the Journey to the Beloved's Home,' in the great poem Śrī Kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛta.