Verse 68

 

 

Translation

 

Is He Kandarpa Himself? Or is He an orb of sweet brilliance? Or is He the embodiment of sweetness? Or is He nectar for the mind and the eyes? Is He the same Mâdhav Who loosens my plait? Am I really seeing Kishor Krishna, Who is the Beloved o my life? 68.

 

 

 

t last, Sri Lilâshuk got actual darshan of Sri Bhagavân.  From the 68^th verse to the 95^th verse, he has described how His beauty is beyond our mind and senses.  Srila Kavirâj Goswâmipâd has quoted a verse from Srimad Bhâgavatam to describe how Sri Krishna appeared before the poet –

 

“Vanamâli Sri Krishna, Who is the Manmath of Manmath, appeared amidst the lamenting Gopis, with a smile on His face, and decked in golden yellow robes.”

– [Srimad-Bhâgavatam 10.32.2] 

 

When Sri Lilâshuk entered Vrindavan, Sri Krishna appeared before him exactly in the same manner and the poet could see Him amidst Sri Radha and the Gopis.  He could see how Sri Radha (in spite of beholding Sri Krishna) thought – ‘I am so unfortunate not to get Sri Krishna’s darshan’. She was crying along with Her sakhis and Sri Lilâshuk has echoed Her feelings in this verse.

 

When, all of a sudden, Sri Krishna appeared in the Râs-floor, virahini Sri Radha was astonished.  At first, She could not even recognize Him.  She felt as if Mâr (Kandarpa) himself had arrived.  She was scared – is He ‘Mâr’? ‘Mâr’ means ‘to kill’. Kandarpa is called Mâr because he can kill everybody with his flower-tipped arrows.  It was natural for Her to be scared, since She was Sri Krishna-viraha-vidhurâ^[1], and on top of this if Mâr (Love-god) tortures Her in this manner, how would she survive? Therefore, She was scared. 

 

Srimati Râdhârâni is so overcome with grief due to Sri Krishna-viraha that sometimes She decides to forsake Him altogether and thus live in peace.  She orders Her sakhis too to give up Krishna-kathâ, but the result is not good. Sriman-Mahâprabhu has lamented Gambhirâ-leelâ (in Sri Râdhâ’s mood) –

 

“(Sri Râdhâ said) – Let me try this – I will give up hoping for Krishna, for then I will be happy.  O sakhis! Forsake this wretched Krishna-kathâ.  Discuss something worthwhile instead, so that we may forget Krishna.  As soon as She said this, Krishna was revealed in Her Heart and she told Her sakhi in wonder, ‘I want to leave Him, but He is lying in my heart, how do I get rid of Him?’ It is Râdhârâni’s nature, that She considers Sri Krishna as Kâmdev, so She was worried.  She said, ‘He who kills everybody has entered my heart.  Oh! This enemy does not let me forget Him!’”

–         [C.C.Antya.17.51-53]

 

Now also Srimati mistook Sri Krishna for Kâmdev.  But very soon, She put Her fear to rest.  She thought – if He is Mâr, then how come He is so sweet?  Is He the collection of all sweet brilliance? Although Sri Krishna’s effulgence as bright as crores of suns, it is more cooling than countless moons. The gyânis call this effulgence as ‘Brahmajyoti’.

 

A loving devotee finds this effulgence supremely sweet.  Sri Krishna’s sweetness makes Him appear to His devotees as the ‘One Who mesmerizes countless Manmaths’. 

 

While explaining ‘Kamâvatâra-ankuram’ in the 3^rd verse, Srila Krishnadâs Kavirâj Goswâmi had said – Sri Krishna is infinitely captivating and mesmerizes countless Manmaths, is an unlimited ocean of naturally sweet lâvanya-Amritam and the exalted devotees experience all these excellences. At present, He is in Vrindavan in the form of Sriman-Madan-Gopâl. Again Srimati Râdhârâni asked Herself – “Has sweetness assumed a form and has appeared before me?”

 

Actually, sweetness and Sri Krishna are synonymous.  Then why do we say Sri Krishna’s sweetness? It is just a way of talking – like we say Râhu’s head.  The demon Râhu consists of only his head.  Therefore, if we say ‘Râhu’, we are referring to his head, but still we say ‘Râhu’s head’.  In the same way, we say ‘Sri Krishna’s sweetness’.

 

Sri Radha was still doubtful. She thought, ‘Is He Amritam? But Amritam is a liquid, whereas He has a shape.  Then, is He really my Beloved – the One Who loosens my tresses?”  She looked properly and said with bliss – “Yes! It is true!  He is really my beloved Navakishor Shyâmsundar!  He has arrived to enhance the joy of my heart and eyes! Dear sakhis, look! Look! He is indeed my Life and Soul!”

 

Sriman-Mahâprabhu read this verse during Gambhirâ-lilâ and uttered in love-delirium –

 

 

“Is He Kâmdev, or is He the embodiment of effulgence? On the other hand, is He sweetness personified? Or is He the ‘Celebration of my heart’ and the ‘Festival of my eyes?’ Or is He really the Beloved of my Life – Sri Krishna Who has truly arrived here to enhance the joy of my eyes!” – [Sri Chaitanya-Charitâmrita.Madhya.2.64.]

 

Srila Bhatta Goswâmipâd says Sri Lilâshuk has Sri Krishna’s sâkshâtkâr and his singular bhakti for Sri Krishna’s lotus feet have increased tremendously.  He is very anxious and full of distress.

 

“Who is the handsome person who has appeared before me and is spreading radiance all around?  Am I mistaken? Is he Kandarpa himself?  No, No, Kandarpa is bodiless.  In spite of being without a body, he manages to agitate the hearts of all living beings.  Is he the moon? No, no, the moon is blemished, whereas this one is flawless.  Also, he is the essence of Supreme bliss, a divine form! Then is he Sweetness personified? No, no, sweetness has no form, whereas this is a Kishor with such a sweet form!  Then is he Amritam? No, no even that is impossible, since Amritam is a liquid.” Again, he pondered carefully and concluded – He is none other than the One who combs the hair of Vraja-beauties.  When the Gopis suffered from viraha, they did not comb their hair.  They wore their hair in a single plait throughout and their hair grew knotted.  Their beloved came and combed their hair Himself.

 

‘Venimrija’ may also mean the ‘One Who is wiped (marjan) with plaits (veni).  When Sri Krishna returned after cattle grazing the Vrajadevis loosened their plaits and wiped His dusty feet most lovingly with them.  In the end, he says – ‘jivita-vallabh’ – One who is dearer than life.  Sri Krishna is the embodiment of some indescribable ras – separated from Whom, even for half a nimesh, we cannot bear to live.  His beauty, effulgence and sweetness are most amazing and are an empire of Supreme bliss for the heart and for the eyes. 68.

 

 

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