Verse 47

 

 

Translation

 

Whose splendour has stolen the finery of dense clouds, Whose gait is lazy due to amour, Whose head is crowned with most intoxicated peacock-feathers, Whose lotus-face steals the heart, Who is stupefied by the side-long glance of Kamalâ, Whose sweetness is the essence of all sweetness in all creation, we are searching for Such an Object. 47.

 

 

 

rila Krishnadâs Kavirâj Goswâmipâd is a supreme connoisseur of Divine ras. He has presented an incredible explanation of the verse that is overflowing with Sri Râs-ras-mâdhuri (the sweet ras of Râs–leelâ). He says that when Sri Krishna left the Gopis during the Râs-leelâ, they went about searching for Him. On the way they found Shyâm’s Sweetheart Sri Râdhâ, Whom He had earlier taken and later forsaken. They understood Her loneliness and viraha. Therefore, Her dear sakhis, who were also suffering similarly, consoled Her by saying, ‘O Râdhe! It is not as if Sri Krishna has forsaken You entirely! He is somewhere near. He must be hiding in some flower-grove just to make fun of You. Can He ever forsake You? If we search, we will surely find Him. There is no use sitting here and lamenting. Come let’s search for Him.’

 

Srimati was comforted and accompanied them in their search for Shyâm. However again She entered a love-crazy state. Whenever She saw anything, She enquired about Her lost Treasure. She did not care whether it was moving or non-moving. This is the nature of the love-crazy Gopis. When Sri Krishna disappeared with the most loving Srimati during the Râs, the other Gopis had been enquiring about Him from every single object they came across.

 

“kwachit-tulasi kalyani govinda-charana-pryie

saha twa-ali-kulair-vibhrad-drishtaste’ti-priyo’chyutah.”

                          

Meaning – “O supremely fortunate Tulasi, who are dear to Govinda’s lotus-feet! Shyâmsundar dons you even when the bees surround you. Have you seen which path He has taken?”

– [Srimad-Bhâgavatam 10.30.7]

 

 

Again, we see that Sri Râdhâ’s sakhis had asked about the Divine Couple from the doe –

 

“Dear sakhi Harini (doe)! Did Krishna come here along with His Sweetheart? Did His all-mesmerizing beauty delight your eyes? (Now we know why your eyes are so large.) We feel He is somewhere near, for this place is fragrant due to His garland of kunda-flowers that are coloured with the saffron from His Sweetheart’s breasts.”              

– [Srimad-Bhâgavatam 10.30.11]

 

Once when Sriman-Mahâprabhu sat in a garden on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Neelâchal, He was absorbed in this leelâ. He asked Tulasi plant, the creepers and the doe about Sri Krishna –

 

“O Tulasi, Mâlati, Juthi, Mâdhavi, Mallikâ creepers, did your beloved Krishna come here? Please tell me about Krishna, O please save me! For you are my sakhis and are dear to me.”

 

“When He did not get any reply, He thought to Himself, they are Krishna’s maids, therefore they are afraid to tell me (Krishna may have forbidden them.) Then He saw the does that looked as if they were spellbound by Krishna’s fragrance and He said –

 

Say, Doe! Has not Sri Krishna come here with Sri Râdhâ to delight you? We are Râdhâ’s close friends and we can get His perfume from far. Therefore, we are absolutely sure of His whereabouts.

 

The fragrant garland that Krishna dons is made of the sweet-scented kunda flowers sprinkled with the saffron from Râdhâ’s bosom. The breeze is laden with its fragrance.

 

When the doe too did not respond, the Lord concluded that Krishna had deserted her as well, She too was suffering and the pain had stupefied her, therefore she was silent.”

 

In this manner, Srimati is wandering in anxiety with Her sakhis and enquiring about Krishna from the trees, creepers and does. She is feeling as if they are asking her – ‘O my dears! For whom are you searching in this dense dark forest, in the dead of the night?’

 

Gopis – (suppressing their true feelings) – He is a Thief. So we’ll not name Him. We are searching for That Crook. You know Him very well. If you have seen Him, better speak up.

 

Taru-latâ^[1]  – Aye, aye, you need not speak more. We got it. That Cheat must be making love to some Gopi just now; may be He has forgotten all about you. We think it is below your dignity to search for Him. So, do not spend your energy.

 

Gopis – (with arrogance and we-don’t-care attitude) – Oh we are very much aware of all this. But then, may be the sidelong glances of Laxmi has stupefied Him and rendered Him motionless? We know it all.

 

‘kamalâ-apânga-udagra-prasanga-jadam’ – ‘Kamalâ’ (Laxmi) serves Him – how does it matter to us? Do you know why we are searching for Him? We told you – He is a thief, He has run away after stealing our gem-like hearts. So we are searching for Him. Otherwise, what do we care for Him?

 

Taru-latâ – We don’t believe you. According to us, He is very decent. Why do you defame Him?

 

Gopis – (shake their heads and laugh in scorn) – Oh really! How well you know Him! He is not a thief! Then who on earth is a thief? There is no robber who is as experienced, bold and enterprising as He is. He is not an ordinary crook. Hundreds of rainbows decorate the clouds in the sky and countless thunderbolts protect them like security guards. But He doesn’t spare even them. ‘bahula-jalada-chhâyâ-chouram’, which means, He has stolen the splendour from the clouds that are more secure than anyone in this world, and enjoy so much independence! He is so audacious! Compared to them we are but helpless girls. So it is not surprising at all that He has run away after stealing our precious hearts. It is not just one incident. The Love-god, moon, lotus, swans, deer, fish, flowers and leaves are the sweetest of all. That thief has stolen sweetness one by one from all of them, and has expanded the empire of His sweetness; do you know this? ‘madhurima-paripâka-udrekan’!

 

Taru-latâ – Well, well! Now we have understood! But if He is such a dangerous thief, then isn’t it better He stays away from you? Why do you want to see Him? And one more point – How will you see Him? If you do not see Him, how will you catch Him?

 

Gopis – There is no way He can hide. He wears a crown of peacock-feathers! You can recognize from even from far – ‘mada-shikhi-shikha-lilottamsam’.

 

Taru-latâ – (sarcastically) – How smart! You may see Him, but how will you grab Him? You think He’ll stand quietly, while you rush towards Him? Is it possible? Can you catch a thief so easily? As soon as He sees you, He will volt with full speed!

 

Gopis – No, dear, no, that won’t happen. He is a thief, no doubt, but not an ordinary one. He is a crook indeed, but an amorous one. He is so over laden with amour that He has become lazy – He’s not swift – He moves with such lethargic gait, that He has very less chance of speeding away – ‘vilâsa-bhara-âlasam’.

 

Taru-latâ – Okay, we accept what you say; but on one hand, He is dark, on the other hand, the forest is thick and dense. If He hides in some dark corner of a flower-grove, how will you spot Him?

 

Gopis – Really, don’t you know? There is no way He can hide in the dark. He is too alluring. He is as brilliant as crores of moons. He cannot hide in the darkness – darkness hides from Him! There is no doubt about it – ‘manogya-mukha-ambujam’.

 

Taru-latâ – All right, it is true. But what’s the hurry? You yourselves said it is impossible for Him to hide – so He will surely get caught. In the morning, You will catch Him in Vraja itself. Is it nice for decent girls to roam around searching for Him at this time of the night? You are weak, while He is strong. You already said He is bold and daring – in this situation will you manage to catch Him? What if He catches you in stead and takes you off somewhere? Then you’ll land in great trouble – so better not search for Him at night, resume your search in the morning.

 

Gopis – O my dear, don’t you fear for us! He will never do it. He is stupefied by the sidelong glace of Kamalâ – ‘Kamalâ-apânga-udagra-prasanga-jadam’ – and any way He is lazy. So there is nothing to fear. If you have seen Him, better tell us.

 

Kavirâj Goswâmi’s explanation is dripping with sweet ras and it is incredible!

 

(to be contd….)

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