sarva-cheto harah krishnasttasya chittam haratyasou,
vaidagdhi sâravistârairato râdhâ harâ matâ.1.
“Sri Krishna steals everyone’s heart, while Srimati Râdhârâni steals His heart with Her intense vaidagdhi – hence She is called ‘Harâ’ and addressed as ‘Hare’.”
karshati sweeya lâvanya-murali-kala-nihswanaih,
sri-râdhâm mohana-gunâlankritah krishna irshyate.2.
“He drags Srimati Râdhârâni with His lâvanya and sweet vibrations of the flute – hence That mesmerizing One is called ‘Krishna’.”
shruyate neeyate râse harinâ harinekshanâ,
ekâkini rahahkunje hareyam tena kathyate.3.
“We have heard that during the Râs-leelâ, Sri Hari steals Srimati Râdhârâni when She is alone and takes Her in a secluded kunja – because She is ‘the stolen one’ – She is ‘Harâ’.”
angashyâmalimastomaih shyâmalikritakânchanah,
ramate râdhayâ sârdhamatah krishno nigadyate.4.
“He turns the color of gold into dark green with His blue splendor; this means He makes the golden-complexioned Sri Râdhâ look dark green when He makes love to Her – so He is ‘Krishna’.”
kritvâranye sarah shreshtham kântayânumatastayâ,
âkrishya sarvateerthâni tajgyânât krishna irshyate.5.
“With the permission of His beloved Srimati Râdhârâni, He attracted all the holy places in Vrindâvan and created a great lake (Shyâmkund) – so He is ‘Krishna’.”
krishneti râdhayâ premnâ yamunâtatakânanam,
leelayâ lalitashchâpi dheeraih krishna udâhritah.6.
“Sri Krishna is attracted by Srimati Râdhârâni’s love and laments in the gardens on the banks of the Yamunâ in dheer-lalita bhâv – therefore the wise call Him ‘Krishna’.”
hatavân gokule tishthannarishtam dushtapungavam,
sriharistam rasâduchchairgâyatiti harâ matâ.7.
“Sri Hari kills the evil Arishtâsur in Vraja and She extols Him loudly as ‘Hari’ in a mood full of ras – so She is ‘Harâ’.”
hasphutam râyati preetibharena haricheshtitam,
gâyatiti matâ dheererharâ rasa-vichakshanaih.8.
“She glorifies Sri Hari’s activities openly with love, so the wise connoisseurs of ras call Her ‘Harâ’.”
(to be continued)