In the siddha-swarup the poet is lamenting – I will never be lucky to get darshan of Sri Krishna’s Râs-leelâs with Sri Râdhâ. Divine pastimes are naturally sweet and wonderful. Amongst all divine pastimes of Krishna, those enacted in the human form are the best. His beauty is unsurpassed when He is in the form of a budding youth, dressed as a cowherd boy and holding the flute.
In Sri Vrindâvan, Sri Krishna performs very sweet pastimes such as the Râs-leelâ with Sri Râdhâ and the other Vraja-beauties. These leelâs are full of Shringâr-ras and are incomparable. Over and above His very confidential pastimes with Sri Râdhâ in the secluded flower-groves are infinitely sweet-relished only by the sakhi-manjaris. Sri Mâdhav is the Ocean of Shringâr-ras while Sri Râdhâ is the Ocean of Mahâbhâv. When They unite, waves of sweetness surge forth and the sakhi–manjaris’ shafari[1]-like eyes swim happily in its wavelets.
The ocean of Srimati’s Mahâbhâv arouses infinite desires in heart of Sri Krishna Who is the best of all Âtmârâm and Âptakâm. Her Mahâbhâv forces Him to dress up beautifully and wander from one flower-grove to another. It makes Him express so many fantastic love-sports. After all, there is no end to the pastimes of the Divine Couple. Sri Lilâshuk is anxious to behold this leelâ in the mood of a sakhi. He is depressed and is thinking that he is not so fortunate as to behold those pastimes.
In the sâdhak-state Sri Lilâshuk wishes to embrace Sri Krishna with his eyes, since he thinks it is impossible to get the opportunity to physically embrace him. It is indeed very difficult to be able to embrace Sri Bhagavân physically.
When Sri Bhagavân is extremely pleased with a devotee, He embraces him and only a very fortunate devotee gets to embrace Sri Bhagavân. When the Divine associate Sri Hanumân returned from Lankâ and conveyed Mother Sitâ’s message to Sri Râmchandra, then the Lord said –
“O my dear Hanumân! You have helped me so much and I cannot give you anything in return. I thought about it and decided I would never be able to repay your debt.”
– [Ram Charit Mânas]
When the Lord found He could not give Sri Hanumân anything, He said –
“idaning te pravakshyâmi sarvaswang mama maruta,
ity-alingya sama-akrishya gadhang vanara-pungavam.”
Meaning – “O Mâruti! I will give you everything that belongs to me. Saying thus, the Lord lifted Sri Hanumân who was fallen at His holy feet and embraced him tightly to his chest.”
This shows that His embrace is His topmost gift. He said further –
“pari-rambho hi me loke durlabhah paramatmanah,
atastang mama bhakto’si priyo’si hari-pungava.”
– [Âdhyâtma-Râmâyan]
Meaning – “O best of all monkeys! In this universe, it is near impossible to receive my embrace. You are my devotee and supremely dear to me, hence I embraced you.”
In Neelâchal Sriman-Mahâprabhu had vowed not to give darshan to King Pratâprudra. Sârvabhouma Bhattâchârya, Râmânanda Roy and even Lord Nityânanda along with other devotees had requested Him to change His decision. But the Lord did not accept their request. At last on Sârvabhouma’s idea, King Pratâprudra had recited a shlok of Gopi-geet to the ecstatic Lord while He was resting on the day of Sri Ratha-Yâtrâ. The Lord was extremely pleased and had embraced him. In this context Sri Chaitanya Charitâmrita says –
“The Lord was resting on the earth with His eyes closed, while the king took the chance to massage His feet in an expert manner. He glorified the Lord by reciting ‘jayati te’ dhikam’ from the Râs-leelâ. As the Lord heard this, He became extremely pleased. He repeatedly cried for more and more.
Then the king recited a verse from Sri Krishna-Karnâmritam and the Lord embraced him with a gush of love.
He said – ‘You gave me so many priceless gems, but I have nothing to give you in return, so I gave you ‘an embrace’.”
From this incident we learn the Lord regards embracing in very high esteem. Sri Lilâshuk is finding it near impossible to embrace the Lord even with his eyes.
Srila Bhatta Goswâmipâd says, earlier Sri Lilâshuk has embraced the ‘sweet sweet’ Sri Krishna with his eyes, but now he is saying that he is not so fortunate any more.
‘ambu-ruha-vilochanang bâlam’ means ‘the corners of His eyes are slightly rose-tinged like the inner petals of the lotus.’ ‘bâl’ means ‘soft beauty’. The poet wants to be engrossed in the bliss of such a darshan. He uses the word ‘hanta’ to show despair – ‘I don’t have the good fortune to behold my Fortune (Krishna) either from far or near.’
Sripâd Chaitanyadâs Goswâmi says – it is a sâdhanâ to behold the embodiment of Good Fortune (Govinda) even from far! Let alone beholding Him with just one bhâv-full eye, I am not lucky to get His darshan even with two open eyes. 43.
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[1] Shafari – Cyprius saphore – a kind of bright little fish that glistens when it darts in the water
Radhe Radhe ! My beloved Kishori baba who was a most exalted devotee, (he lived in Gora Dham) used to often experience a hug from Shachi mata after he had returned with Goursundar from the Nabadweep-parikrama. He used to say excitedly – “That alone makes all my sadhana worthwhile !!” 🙂
Since the manjaris experience all the ras-relations possible in Brijdham, with Swaminijiu, – that of servitude, sakhya, vatsalya and madhurya – Her embrace is all the more loving and special……..when we have rejuvenated Her with the sweet talks of Her Pritam………..:)