Explanation of ‘Jayashri’

Sri Krishna’s beauty has thrilled Lilâshuk’s heart.  Now he started thinking, “With what can I compare Sri Krishna’s beautiful features?”  After much thinking, he decided that there is nothing in the universe that can be compared to Sri Krishna’s beauty.  He thought that all beautiful objects in the world are reduced to nothing when compared to the beauty of even the tip of Sri Krishna’s toenail.  Hence he said – “Sri Krishna’s toes are as soft, merciful and wish-fulfilling as the tender leaves of a Kalpa-taru.¹ ‘Jayashri‘ willingly enjoys the bliss of ‘Swayamvar‘² by reposing at the tip of His single toe-nail”.

Another reason for ‘Jayashri’ taking shelter of Sri Krishna’s toenail

‘Shri‘ also means ‘beauty’. Once upon a time Princess Beauty went around the universe to search for a suitable groom, holding a flower garland in her hand. She travelled through the entire universe, but she did not find a suitable husband.  With a heart filled with sorrow, she returned to Earth.  Here, she stepped into Vrindâvan. Beauty was not aware, that, now the infinitely beautiful and infinitely sweet Sri Govinda had manifested Himself in Sri Vrindâvan. Beauty thought – “I could not find a suitable groom anywhere in the world; now only this woodland remains. As if, I will find anyone here! Anyway, why should I leave it out?” As she proceeded, she heard the all-attractive melody of the flute played by Sri Govinda.  Beauty was enchanted.  She ran helter-skelter towards the source of that music.  And lo behold!  She saw the extremely dazzling form of Sri Govinda under the Kadamba tree on the banks of the Yamunaa.  As soon as she saw Him, She fell down unconscious.  When she regained consciousness, she said – “O destroyer of false ego³!  How You have vanquished my pride!  I thought that no one was as beautiful as I am.  I used to think that I am worthy of the title ‘Jayashri’ (the victorious Beauty).  But alas! I do not have the beauty equivalent to that of the tip of Your toe-nail even!”  Then ‘Jayashri‘ Beauty surrendered her garland at the tip of Sri Govinda’s toenail and became His eternal maidservant.  She started relishing the sweet ras of the tip of His toenail – hence the expression – “yat-pada-kalpa-taru-pallava-shekhareshu leelâ-swayamvara-rasam labhate jayashrih.” Sri Lilâshuk said – “Crores of ‘Jayashri‘ spontaneously rush forward to drink the nectar of His toenails – how can I express His glory? He has composed some more verses in this same mood such as,

“Sri Krishna’s lotus-feet are the source of the entire beauty of the eternal pastimes. They purge the pride of a host of beautiful lotuses. They are most capable in offering shelter to the surrendered one.  May my heart obtain inexpressible joy from the very same lotus-feet of Sri Krishna!”- (KK 12)

In another verse the poet has mentioned –

“Dear Lord! When the moon beheld Your Moon-face⁴, he accepted defeat and shattered into ten pieces, which then took shelter at Your lotus-feet (in the form of Your dazzling nails). After this, the moon looked more beautiful. Your benevolence is incomparable.”- (KK 96)

In this way, Lilâshuk has extolled the sweetness of Sri Krishna’s lotus-feet in many verses.

(to be continued)

¹ wish-fulfilling tree

² choosing one’s husband

³ she had been proud of her beauty before setting her eyes on Sri Krishna

⁴ Sri Krishna’s face is called ‘moon-face’ because it is as beautiful, radiant, serene and cooling as the full moon