Verse  11

Translation

The One Who knows the heart of the charming bewildered Vraja-beauties, Who is the restless gem (precious wealth) residing in the hearts of the Vrajadevis, Who has large naughty eyes, Who is young – may That inexpressible dense brilliance pervade my heart.11.

ust as Sri Krishna is the chief of ‘rasikas’, the Gopis too are supreme ‘vidagdha’. It means that Sri Krishna is made of ras, while the Vraja-Gopis are replete with the infinite ras–vaidagdhi that enables ‘Shringâr-rasa-râj’ Sri Krishna to relish sweet ras.

During the Râs–leelâ Rasik-chudâmani¹ Sri Krishna increased the Gopis’ longing. After this He was to desert all of them and sport in various manners with Sri Râdhârâni in seclusion.

‘Sri Krishna is embracing some Gopi, kissing another one and sporting with a third’. – (Gita-Govindam)

Sri Lilâshuk was inspired with such a vision of Sri Krishna’s dalliance with the Gopis that He was intensely curious to behold such pastimes and said, “May That inexpressible dense brilliance pervade my heart.”

Now, Sri Krishna has deserted all the other Vraja-beauties in order to sport with Srimati Râdhârâni in seclusion. Here ‘hridaya’ (in the heart) refers to some private place or a place where Sri Râdhâ’s intimate friends are present. It is the heartfelt desire of all the sakhi-manjaris who are followers of Sri Râdhârâni, that Sri Krishna should desert the three hundred crores of Gopis during the Râs–leelâ and sport with Sri Râdhâ in seclusion. They love to relish the beauty and pastimes of Sri Krishna when He is solely under the command of their mistress. When Sri Krishna deserted all the Gopis during Râs-leelâ and was sporting with Sri Râdhârâni in privacy, Her sakhis were very eager to behold the dalliance of the Divine Couple. Therefore, they asked the does –

“O friend doe! Did Sri Krishna come here, accompanied by His beloved? You must have felt extreme joy on beholding His all-alluring form! Is this why your eyes have enlarged so much? We feel as if He must be somewhere near because this place is so fragrant with the sweet scent of His garland. It is sweet-smelling and more colourful because of the saffron from the breasts of His beloved”. – (S.B.10.30.11)

In the Vaishnav–toshani explanation of this verse it is written – “All the words of this shlok indicate that they are spoken by a beloved sakhi in the passionate mood. Hence, it is clear that Sri Râdhâ’s sakhis are impatient to behold Sri Sri Râdhâ-Krishna sporting with each other. Therefore they are enquiring about Them from the doe”.

(to be continued)