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Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi · Chapter 6

Leaders of the Groups

Unit 6 of 156.16.2626 source entries

एतासाꣳ यूथ-मुख्यानाꣳ विशेषो वर्णितो’प्य् असौ । सुहृद्-आदौ व्यवहृति-व्यक्तये वर्ण्यते पुनः ॥१॥

etāsāṁ yūtha-mukhyānāṁ viśeṣo varṇito’py asau | suhṛd-ādau vyavahṛti-vyaktaye varṇyate punaḥ ||1||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Although the distinctive qualities of these principal group leaders have already been described, they are presented again to clarify how the leaders behave toward friends and others.

सौभाग्यादेर् इहाधिक्याद् अधिका साम्यतः समा । लघुत्वाल् लघुर् इत्य् उक्तास् त्रिधा गोकुल-सुभ्रुवः ॥२॥

saubhāgyāder ihādhikyād adhikā sāmyataḥ samā | laghutvāl laghur ity uktās tridhā gokula-subhruvaḥ ||2||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

According to superior good fortune and similar qualities, a lovely-browed woman of Gokula is called superior; when those qualities are equal, she is called equal; and when they are lesser, she is called inferior. Thus there are three classes.

प्रत्येकꣳ प्रखरा मध्या मृद्वी चेति पुनस् त्रिधा ॥३॥

pratyekaṁ prakharā madhyā mṛdvī ceti punas tridhā ||3||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Each of these is again threefold: sharp, intermediate, and gentle.

प्रगल्भ-वाक्या प्रखरा ख्याता दुर्लङ्घ्य-भाषिता । तद्-ऊनत्वे भवेन् मृद्वी मध्या तत्-साम्यम् आगता ॥४॥

pragalbha-vākyā prakharā khyātā durlaṅghya-bhāṣitā | tad-ūnatve bhaven mṛdvī madhyā tat-sāmyam āgatā ||4||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

A woman known for bold speech whose words are difficult to transgress is sharp. When that boldness is deficient she is gentle, and when it is balanced she is intermediate.

तत्र अधिका-त्रिकम्- आत्यन्तिकी तथैवापेक्षिकी चेत्य् अधिका त्रिधा ॥५॥

tatra adhikā-trikam- ātyantikī tathaivāpekṣikī cety adhikā tridhā ||5||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the three superior temperaments: A leader's superiority may be absolute or relative, while the superior class appears in the three temperaments just described.

सर्वथैवासमोर्ध्वा या सा स्याद् आत्यन्तिकाधिका । सा राधा सा तु मध्यैव यन् नान्या सदृशी व्रजे ॥६॥

sarvathaivāsamordhvā yā sā syād ātyantikādhikā | sā rādhā sā tu madhyaiva yan nānyā sadṛśī vraje ||6||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

The absolutely superior leader has no equal or superior in any respect. Rādhā alone holds this position. Her temperament is intermediate, for no other woman in Vraja is comparable to her.

तत्र आत्यन्ताधिका, यथा- तावद् भद्रा वदति चटुलꣳ फुल्लताम् एति पाली शालीनत्वꣳ त्यजति विमला श्यामलाहङ्करोति । स्वैरꣳ चन्द्रावलिर् अपि चलत्य् उन्नमय्योत्तमाङ्गꣳ यावत् कर्णे न हि निविशते हन्त राधेति मन्त्रः ॥७॥

tatra ātyantādhikā, yathā- tāvad bhadrā vadati caṭulaṁ phullatām eti pālī śālīnatvaṁ tyajati vimalā śyāmalāhaṅkaroti | svairaṁ candrāvalir api calaty unnamayyottamāṅgaṁ yāvat karṇe na hi niviśate hanta rādheti mantraḥ ||7||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

The absolutely superior leader, for example: Bhadrā speaks restlessly, Pālī bursts into bloom, Vimalā abandons reserve, Śyāmalā grows proud, and even Candrāvalī moves freely with her head held high, but only until the mantra ‘Rādhā’ enters their ears.

अथ आपेक्षिकाधिका- मध्ये यूथाधिनाथानाम् अपेक्ष्यैकतमाम् इह । या स्याद् अन्यतमा श्रेष्ठा सा प्रोक्तापेक्षिकाधिका ॥८॥

atha āpekṣikādhikā- madhye yūthādhināthānām apekṣyaikatamām iha | yā syād anyatamā śreṣṭhā sā proktāpekṣikādhikā ||8||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the relatively superior leader: Among the leaders of groups, whichever woman is superior here in relation to another particular leader is called relatively superior.

अथ अधिक-प्रखरा, यथा- पश्य क्षौणी-धराद् उपैति पुरतः कृष्णो भुजङ्गाग्रणीस् तूर्णꣳ भीरुभिर् आलिभिः समम् इतस् त्वꣳ याहि मन्त्रोज्झिते । आचार्याहम् अटामि भोगि-रमणी-वृन्दस्य वृन्दाटवीꣳ किꣳ नः कामिनि कार्मणेन वशताꣳ नीतः करिष्यत्य् असौ ॥९॥

atha adhika-prakharā, yathā- paśya kṣauṇī-dharād upaiti purataḥ kṛṣṇo bhujaṅgāgraṇīs tūrṇaṁ bhīrubhir ālibhiḥ samam itas tvaṁ yāhi mantrojjhite | ācāryāham aṭāmi bhogi-ramaṇī-vṛndasya vṛndāṭavīṁ kiṁ naḥ kāmini kārmaṇena vaśatāṁ nītaḥ kariṣyaty asau ||9||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

The superior sharp leader, for example: Look, Kṛṣṇa, foremost of serpents, approaches before us from Govardhana. You are timid, so quickly leave here with your friends, bereft of every protective spell. I am the teacher of the serpent-maidens and roam through the Vṛndāvana forest. Lovely girl, what can he do to us when my magic has brought him under control?

6.10

Source

अथ अधिक-मध्या- आलीभिर् मे त्वम् असि विदिता पूर्णिमायाः प्रदोषे रोषेणासौ प्रथयसि कथꣳ पाटवेनावहित्थाम् । धृत्वा धूर्ते सह-परिजनाꣳ मद्-गृहे त्वाꣳ निरुन्ध्याꣳ वर्त्म-प्रेक्षी गुणयतु स ते जागरꣳ कुञ्ज-राजः ॥१०॥

atha adhika-madhyā- ālībhir me tvam asi viditā pūrṇimāyāḥ pradoṣe roṣeṇāsau prathayasi kathaṁ pāṭavenāvahitthām | dhṛtvā dhūrte saha-parijanāṁ mad-gṛhe tvāṁ nirundhyāṁ vartma-prekṣī guṇayatu sa te jāgaraṁ kuñja-rājaḥ ||10||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the superior intermediate leader: My friends recognized you in the evening of the full moon. Why do you now skillfully conceal the truth by displaying anger? Cunning girl, I shall seize you with your attendants and confine you in my house. Let that king of the bowers, watching the road, count the watches of a sleepless night.

6.11

Source

अथ अधिक-मृद्वी- न्यञ्चन्-मूर्धा सह परिजनैर् दूरतो मा प्रयासीर् माम् आलोक्य प्रिय-सखि यतः प्रेम-पात्री ममासि । माला मौलौ तव परिचिता मत्-कला-कौशलाढ्या द्यूते जित्वा दनुज-दमनꣳ या त्वया स्वीकृतास्ति ॥११॥

atha adhika-mṛdvī- nyañcan-mūrdhā saha parijanair dūrato mā prayāsīr mām ālokya priya-sakhi yataḥ prema-pātrī mamāsi | mālā maulau tava paricitā mat-kalā-kauśalāḍhyā dyūte jitvā danuja-damanaṁ yā tvayā svīkṛtāsti ||11||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the superior gentle leader: Do not bow your head and go far away with your attendants when you see me, dear friend, for you are a vessel of my affection. I recognize in your hair the garland rich with the skill of my own artistry, which you accepted after defeating the subduer of demons at dice.

6.12

Source

अथ समा-त्रिकम्- साम्यꣳ भवेद् अधिकयोस् तथा लघु-युगस्य च ॥१२॥

atha samā-trikam- sāmyaṁ bhaved adhikayos tathā laghu-yugasya ca ||12||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the three equal temperaments: Equality occurs between two relatively superior leaders or between two relatively inferior leaders.

6.13

Source

तत्र सम-प्रखरा- न भवति तव पार्श्वे चेत् सखी कापि माभूत् परिहर हृदि कम्पꣳ किꣳ हरिस् ते विधाता । अहम् अतिचतुराभिर् वेष्टिताली-घटाभिः प्रिय-सखि पुरतस् ते दुस्तरा बाहुदास्मि ॥१३॥

tatra sama-prakharā- na bhavati tava pārśve cet sakhī kāpi mābhūt parihara hṛdi kampaṁ kiṁ haris te vidhātā | aham aticaturābhir veṣṭitālī-ghaṭābhiḥ priya-sakhi puratas te dustarā bāhudāsmi ||13||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

The equal sharp leader, for example: Even if no companion stands beside you, do not let your heart tremble. What can Hari do to you? Dear friend, surrounded by companies of exceedingly clever companions, I stand before you as a fortress of arms that is difficult to cross.

6.14

Source

अथ सम-मध्या- लोले न स्पृश माꣳ तवालिक-तटे धातुर् यद् आलक्ष्यते त्वꣳ स्पृश्यासि कथꣳ भुजङ्ग-रमणी दूराद् अतस् त्यज्यसे । धिग् वामꣳ वदसि त्वम् एव कुहक-प्रेष्ठासि भोगाङ्किते येनाद्य च्युत-कञ्चुकाः शुषिर् अतःसख्यो’पि सर्पन्ति ते ॥१४॥

atha sama-madhyā- lole na spṛśa māṁ tavālika-taṭe dhātur yad ālakṣyate tvaṁ spṛśyāsi kathaṁ bhujaṅga-ramaṇī dūrād atas tyajyase | dhig vāmaṁ vadasi tvam eva kuhaka-preṣṭhāsi bhogāṅkite yenādya cyuta-kañcukāḥ śuṣir ataḥsakhyo’pi sarpanti te ||14||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the equal intermediate leader: Restless girl, do not touch me, for mineral pigment is visible upon the edge of your forehead. How can a woman who sports with a serpent be touched? Keep away from me. Shame on you for speaking perversely! You alone are the cheater's favorite, marked by enjoyment, for today your companions, their bodices slipped, crawl out from the hollow behind you.

6.15

Source

अथ सम-मृद्वी- प्रत्याख्यातु सुहृज्जनः कथम् अयꣳ ताराभिधत्ते गिरꣳ प्राणास् त्वꣳ हि ममोच्चकैर् उरसि शपे धर्माय लीलावति । किन्तु ताम् अहम् अर्थये परम् इदꣳ कल्याणि तꣳ वल्लभꣳ स्वीयꣳ शाधि यथा स गौरि सरले कुर्याज् जने न च्छलम् ॥१५॥

atha sama-mṛdvī- pratyākhyātu suhṛjjanaḥ katham ayaṁ tārābhidhatte giraṁ prāṇās tvaṁ hi mamoccakair urasi śape dharmāya līlāvati | kintu tām aham arthaye param idaṁ kalyāṇi taṁ vallabhaṁ svīyaṁ śādhi yathā sa gauri sarale kuryāj jane na cchalam ||15||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the equal gentle leader: How could a loving friend reject you? Tārā speaks only words. Līlāvatī, I swear upon dharma with my hand upon my heart that you are truly my life. Auspicious girl, I ask only this: instruct that beloved of yours not to deceive the innocent Gaurī.

6.16

Source

यथा वा- प्रहित्य कठिने निजꣳ परिजनꣳ मदार्या त्वया निकामम् उपजप्यताꣳ किम् उ विभीषिका-डम्बरैः । व्रजामि रविजा-तटे गुरु-गिरा मृषा-शङ्किनि प्रदोष-समये समꣳ सवयसा शिवाꣳ सेवितुम् ॥१६॥

yathā vā- prahitya kaṭhine nijaṁ parijanaṁ madāryā tvayā nikāmam upajapyatāṁ kim u vibhīṣikā-ḍambaraiḥ | vrajāmi ravijā-taṭe guru-girā mṛṣā-śaṅkini pradoṣa-samaye samaṁ savayasā śivāṁ sevitum ||16||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Or, for example: Hard-hearted girl, send away your own attendant and let my venerable elder be thoroughly persuaded by you. What use is this display of threats? Suspicious without cause, I am going at dusk to the Yamunā's bank on my elder's order, together with a companion, to worship Śivā.

6.17

Source

अथ लघु-त्रिकम्- लघुर् आपेक्षिकी चात्यन्तिकी चेति द्विधोदिता ॥१७॥

atha laghu-trikam- laghur āpekṣikī cātyantikī ceti dvidhoditā ||17||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the inferior leaders: Inferiority is said to be of two kinds, relative and absolute.

6.18

Source

तत्र आपेक्षिकी लघुः- मध्ये यूथाधिनाथानाम् अपेक्ष्यैकतमाम् इह । या स्याद् अन्यतमा न्यूना सा प्रोक्तापेक्षिकी लघुः ॥१८॥

tatra āpekṣikī laghuḥ- madhye yūthādhināthānām apekṣyaikatamām iha | yā syād anyatamā nyūnā sā proktāpekṣikī laghuḥ ||18||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Among these, the relatively inferior leader: Of the group leaders, whichever woman is lesser here in relation to a particular other leader is called relatively inferior.

6.19

Source

तत्र लघु-प्रखरा- त्वꣳ मिथ्या-गुण-कीर्तनेन चटुले वृन्दाटवी-तस्करे गाढꣳ देवि निबध्य माꣳ किम् अधुना तुष्टा तटस्थायसे । हृत्वा धैर्य-धनानि हन्त रभसाद् आच्छिद्य ह्री-वैभवꣳ येनायꣳ सखि वञ्चितो’पि बहुधा दुःखी जनो वञ्च्यते ॥१९॥

tatra laghu-prakharā- tvaṁ mithyā-guṇa-kīrtanena caṭule vṛndāṭavī-taskare gāḍhaṁ devi nibadhya māṁ kim adhunā tuṣṭā taṭasthāyase | hṛtvā dhairya-dhanāni hanta rabhasād ācchidya hrī-vaibhavaṁ yenāyaṁ sakhi vañcito’pi bahudhā duḥkhī jano vañcyate ||19||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

The inferior sharp leader, for example: Restless girl, after binding me tightly to the thief of Vṛndāvana forest by falsely praising his virtues, why do you now stand apart in satisfaction? Alas, he violently stole the wealth of my composure and tore away the splendor of my modesty. Friend, although this miserable person has been deceived by him many times, she is being deceived again.

6.20

Source

अथ लघु-मध्या- गोष्ठाधीश-सुतस्य सा नव-नव-प्रेष्ठस्य यावद्-दृशोः पन्थानꣳ वृषभानुजा सखि वशीकारौषधिज्ञा ययौ । तावत् त्वय्य् अपि कूर्क्षम् अस्य बलवद्-दाक्षिण्यम् एवेक्ष्यते का चन्द्रावलि एवि दुर्भगतया दूनात्मनाꣳ नः कथा ॥२०॥

atha laghu-madhyā- goṣṭhādhīśa-sutasya sā nava-nava-preṣṭhasya yāvad-dṛśoḥ panthānaṁ vṛṣabhānujā sakhi vaśīkārauṣadhijñā yayau | tāvat tvayy api kūrkṣam asya balavad-dākṣiṇyam evekṣyate kā candrāvali evi durbhagatayā dūnātmanāṁ naḥ kathā ||20||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the inferior intermediate leader: Friend, only until Vṛṣabhānu's daughter, who knows the medicine of enchantment, entered the pathway of the eyes of the cowherd king's ever-fresh beloved son was his strong courtesy visible toward you as well. Candrāvalī, what need is there to speak of the misery of unfortunate women like us?

6.21

Source

अथ लघु-मृद्वी- अपसरणम् इतो नः साम्प्रतꣳ स्याद् यद् अपि हरि-चकोरꣳ चित्रम् आलोचयामः । कलयत सहचर्यः पर्यटद्-गौर-दीप्तिस् तट-भुवि नव-शोभाꣳ सौति चन्द्रावलीयम् ॥२१॥

atha laghu-mṛdvī- apasaraṇam ito naḥ sāmprataṁ syād yad api hari-cakoraṁ citram ālocayāmaḥ | kalayata sahacaryaḥ paryaṭad-gaura-dīptis taṭa-bhuvi nava-śobhāṁ sauti candrāvalīyam ||21||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the inferior gentle leader: Let us move away from here now, even though we are beholding the wondrous cakora bird Hari. Companions, look! Candrāvalī's wandering golden radiance produces fresh beauty across the riverbank.

6.22

Source

अथ आत्यन्तिकी लघुः- अन्या यतो’स्ति न न्यूना सा स्याद् आत्यन्तिकी लघुः । त्रैविध्य-सम्भवे’प्य् अस्या मृदुतैवोचिता भवेत् ॥२२॥

atha ātyantikī laghuḥ- anyā yato’sti na nyūnā sā syād ātyantikī laghuḥ | traividhya-sambhave’py asyā mṛdutaivocitā bhavet ||22||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

Now the absolutely inferior leader: Because there is no other leader lesser than her, she is called absolutely inferior. Although all three temperaments are theoretically possible for her, gentleness alone is appropriate.

6.23

Source

यथा- निज-निखिल-सखीनाम् आग्रहेणाघ-वैरी कथम् अपि स मयाद्य व्यक्तम् आमन्त्रितो’स्ति । क्षणम् उरु-करुणाभिः सꣳवरीतुꣳ त्रपाꣳ मे मद्-उदवसित-लक्ष्मीꣳ गोष्ठ-देव्यस् तनुध्वम् ॥२३॥

yathā- nija-nikhila-sakhīnām āgraheṇāgha-vairī katham api sa mayādya vyaktam āmantrito’sti | kṣaṇam uru-karuṇābhiḥ saṁvarītuṁ trapāṁ me mad-udavasita-lakṣmīṁ goṣṭha-devyas tanudhvam ||23||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

For example: At the insistence of all my companions, I have somehow openly invited the enemy of Agha here today. Goddesses of the cowherd settlement, filled with great compassion, please conceal my modest shame for a moment and enhance the beauty of my dwelling.

6.24

Source

न समा न लघुश् चाद्या भवेन् नैवाधिकान्तिमा । अन्यास् त्रिधाधिकाश् च स्युः समाश् च लघवश् च ताः ॥२४॥

na samā na laghuś cādyā bhaven naivādhikāntimā | anyās tridhādhikāś ca syuḥ samāś ca laghavaś ca tāḥ ||24||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

The first, absolutely superior leader is neither equal nor inferior to anyone; the last, absolutely inferior leader is neither equal nor superior. The remaining leaders may each be superior, equal, or inferior in relative comparisons.

6.25

Source

विनात्यन्ताधिकाꣳ तेन सर्वासु लघुता भवेत् । सर्वास्व् अधिकता च स्याद् विनैवात्यन्तिकीꣳ लघुम् ॥२५॥

vinātyantādhikāṁ tena sarvāsu laghutā bhavet | sarvāsv adhikatā ca syād vinaivātyantikīṁ laghum ||25||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

With the exception of the absolutely superior leader, every leader can be inferior in relation to someone else. With the exception of the absolutely inferior leader, every leader can likewise be superior to someone else.

6.26

Source

आद्यैकैवान्तिमा द्वेधा मध्यस्था नवधोदिताः । इत्य् असौ यूथ-नाथानाꣳ भिदा द्वादशधोदिता ॥२६॥

ādyaikaivāntimā dvedhā madhyasthā navadhoditāḥ | ity asau yūtha-nāthānāṁ bhidā dvādaśadhoditā ||26||

English translation

Fresh editorial translation from the Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi-mūla-mātram authority

The first leader has only one form, the final leader has two, and the intermediate leaders have nine. Thus the group leaders are described in twelve divisions.