®rÿ Padyavali: A Verse Anthology

®RŸLA RUPA GOSVÃMŸ'S
®RŸ PADYAVALI
A Verse Anthology
Auspicious Introduction
1 This Padyavali (Anthology of Poetry) was written by devotees expert in the mellows of devotional
service. This book contains many beautiful verses, which have been collected for the pleasure of the
devotees. It illuminates the darkness of ignorance, and it is an ocean of transcendental bliss.
®r… Rupa Gosv€m…
Grantharambhe mangalacaranam
Auspicious Introductions
2 To ®r… KŠa, whose eyes are beautiful as lotus flowers, who delights in playing the flute, who
drinks the nectar of R€dh€'s lips, and who is garlanded with forest flowers, I offer my respectful
obeisances.
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3 This verse may be interpreted for either Lord KŠa's eyes or form. The two possible translations
follow.
Translation 1: May Lord Hari's eyes, which lovingly gaze on the devotees, which rival the splendour of
blue lotuses, on which the yogis meditate to attain auspiciousness, which are two great oceans of
handsomeness, and which fill R€dh€'s eyes with the nectar of love, quell for you the sufferings of material
life.
Translation 2: May Lord Hari's form, on which the devotees lovingly gaze, which rivals the splendour of
blue lotuses, on which the yogis meditate to attain auspiciousness, which is a great ocean of handsomeness,
and which fills R€dh€'s eyes with the nectar of love, quell for you the sufferings of material life.
®r… Saranga
4 May KŠa's arms, their golden ornaments and peacock feathers anointed with mud when He lifted
Govardhana Hill, deep in Vnd€vana forest the gopis' two blue pillows, and anointed with Kuvalayapida's
fragrant ichor, always grant auspiciousness to you.
Subhanka
5 May playful Gopala's flute-music, which calls the faraway surabhi cows by name, which is the
mystic mantra that charms the gopis' hearts, and which delights and attracts the deer enjoying in Vnd€vana
bless you all.
®r… Hara
®r… KŠasya mahima

The Glory of KŠa
6 I offer my respectful obeisances to wonderful, playful, mischievous KŠa who, if He desires, can
make an ocean dry land, dry land an ocean, a blade of grass a thunderbolt, a thunderbolt an insignificant
blade of grass, fire cool, or snow blazing fire.
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7 Because He is very affectionate, He promises to give fearlessness to His devotees, He removes His
devotees' sins, and He bestows limitless auspiciousness, and because Prahlada, Vibhisana, Gajendra,
Draupadi, Ahalya, and Dhruva testify to these virtues, Lord KŠa, the husband of the goddess of fortune,
should be served by all the worlds.
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Bhajana-mahatmya
The Glory of Devotional Service
8 Where were the hunter Dharma's piety, Dhruva's maturity, and Gajendra's knowledge? Where was
Kubja's beauty? Where was Sudama's wealth? Where was Vidura's noble birth? Where was Ugrasena's
chivalrous strength? Lord Madhava is pleased only by devotional service and not by material
qualifications.
®r… Daksinatya
9 What is the difference between good and bad deeds? Let there be only firm devotional service to
the Supreme Lord. Although the king of snakes gives poison and the moon gives sweet nectar, Lord Siva
does not see any difference between them.
®r… Visnu Puri
10 O Madhusudana, if a wise person in his heart serves Your lotus feet then any sins he may have done
are all nullified. If he rejects Your service he gets all sinful reactions even though he may not have done
any sinful deed.
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11 Not by wearing saffron cloth, not by restricting food and other sense-activities, not by living in the
forest, not by discussing philosophy, and not by observing a vow of silence, but only by even the slightest
beginning of devotional service to the lotus feet of Lord Govinda, who enjoys pastimes on the Yamuna's
wide banks, is Kamadeva stopped.
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12 The words KŠa KŠa are sufficient to purify the people's sins. If they have blissful service to Lord
Mukunda, then the goddess of liberation bows before their lotus feet.
®r… Sarvajna
13 As long as there is hunger and thirst, eating and drinking make one feel very happy. When the Lord
is worshipped with pure love, transcendental bliss is awakened in the heart of the devotee.*
®r… R€mananda Raya
14 Pure devotional service in KŠa Consciousness cannot be had even by pious activity in hundreds and
thousands of lives. It can be attained only by paying one price - that is, intense greed to obtain it. If it is
available somewhere, one must purchase it without delay.*
®r… R€mananda Raya
15 Knowledge is not equal to love of KŠa, and the ability to perform mystic tricks is not equal to KŠa's
holy name.
®r… ®r…dhara Sv€mi
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Nama-mahatmya
The Glory of the Holy Name
16 All glories to the holy name of Lord Hari. As the boat of the sun goes to the other shore of the
ocean of darkness, so the all-auspicious holy name, rising once, destroys all sins.
®r… Laksmidhara
17 Extracting the four syllables that are the heart of the four Vedas, Lord Hari makes the word
Narayana. Day and night chanting this name, we become purified. We do not known any other better way
to please Lord Hari.
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18 Let the twice-born enter the fearless kingdom of yoga, vedic study, and solitary meditation in the
forest. Let them become liberated in that way. As for us, we will spend hundreds of thousands of births
chanting the holy name of Lord KŠa, whose splendid dark complexion and yellow garments are like a host
of blue lotus flowers blooming in a grove of yellow-flower-bearing kadamba trees.
®r… Isvara Puri
19 May KŠa's holy name, which is a reservoir of all transcendental happiness, the destruction of Kali-
yuga's sins, the most purifying of all purifying things, the saintly person's food as he traverses the path to
the spiritual world, the pleasure-garden where the voices of the greatest saints, philosophers, and poets play,
the life of the righteous, and the seed of the tree of religion, bring transcendental auspiciousness to you all.
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20 O Supreme Personality of Godhead, when someone desires to chant Your holy name, sins tremble in
fear, the glory of material illusion faints unconscious, Yamaraja's scribe Citragupta becomes happy and
gazes at the chanter's toenails with awe and reverence, and Lord Brahma prepares madhu-parka to worship
him. O Lord, what more can we say than this?
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21 Lord KŠa's holy name is the only auspiciousness in this world. If one places it on his neck, then
what is Yamaraja, the king of the other world, to him? What are Yamaraja's servants to him?
®r… Anandacarya
22 Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord KŠa, which can cleanse the mirror
of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing
moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all
education. The chanting of the holy name of KŠa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives
a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.*
Bhagavan ®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu
23 If the opulence or knowledge of many millions of universes were clustered together, they would
hardly equal a small fragment of the glory of KŠa's holy name. KŠa's holy name is my life. It is the goal
of my life. It is the means I will employ to attain the goal of my life.
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24 Lord Visnu's holy name removes sin, establishes piety, makes one disinterested in the attempt to
gain an exalted post like that of Lord Brahma, grants devotion for the lotus feet of the spiritual master,
brings transcendental knowledge of Lord Visnu, burns the seed of repeated birth and death, and places the
saintly devotee in complete awareness of perfect transcendental bliss.
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®r… Vy€sa
25 The holy name of KŠa is transcendentally blissful. It bestows all spiritual benedictions, for it is KŠa
Himself, the reservoir of all pleasure. KŠa's name is complete, and it is the form of all transcendental
mellows. It is not a material name under any condition, and it is no less powerful than KŠa Himself. Since
KŠa's name is not cont€minated by the material qualities, there is no question of its being involved with
m€y€. KŠa's name is always liberated and spiritual; it is never conditioned by the laws of material nature.
This is because the name of KŠa and KŠa Himself are identical.*
®r… Vy€sa
26 KŠa's name is the sweetest of sweet things, the most auspicious of auspicious things, the
transcendental fruit of the vine of all Vedic literature. O best of the bhrgus, chanted even once, either with
faith or contempt, it delivers the chanter.
®r… Vy€sa
27 The attempt to attain the heavenly svarga planets impoverishes the entire world. The desire to attain
impersonal liberation brings only trouble. The regimen of yoga is dry and tasteless. what is the use of
endeavours like these? I will abandon them all, and simply make my tongue chant "KŠa, KŠa".
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28 O Lord, is Your impersonal spiritual effulgence not always present everywhere? Even so, it has not
been able to break even a single small leaf from the tree of repeated birth and death. On the other hand, the
moment Your holy name is taken by the tongue it thoroughly shatters the tree of birth and death down to it's
roots. Of these two (the spiritual effulgence or the holy name) which should be served?
29 The holy name of Lord KŠa is an attractive feature for many saintly liberal people. It is the
annihilator of all sinful reactions and is so powerful that save for the dumb who cannot chant it, it is readily
available to everyone, including the lowest type of man, the candala. The holy name of KŠa is the
controller of the opulence of liberation, and it is identical with KŠa. Simply by touching the holy name
with one's tongue, immediately effects are produced. Chanting the holy name does not depend on
initiation, pious activities or the purascarya regulative principles generally observed before initiation. The
holy names does not wait for all these activities. It is self-sufficient.*
®r… Laksmidhara
30 O Lord, just as a miser continually collects, counts and remembers his money, in the same way let
us continually collect, count and remember Your holy names.
®r… Bhavananda
31 My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the
living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as KŠa and Govinda, by which You expand
Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names and there are no hard and fast rules for
remembering them. My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by
liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy
name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting.*
®r… Caitanya Mah€prabhu
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Nama-kirtana
Glorification of the Holy Names
32 One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not
expect personal honour but is always prepared to give all respect to others, can very easily always chant the
holy name of the Lord.*
33 "O ®r… R€ma, O Janardana (rescuer of the devotees), O Jagatam Natha (master of the universe), O
Narayana, O Ananta (personified transcendental bliss), O Dayapara (merciful one), O Kamalakanta
(husband of Laksmi), O KŠa," O Lord please make me become overwhelmed with tears stre€ming from my
eyes as I repeatedly plunge into the waves of the great nectar ocean of these beautiful transcendental names.
34 Calling out, "O ®r…kanta (husband of the goddess of fortune), O KŠa (all-attractive one), O
Karunam€y€ (merciful one), O Kanjanabha (whose navel is like a lotus flower), O Kaivalyavallabha (O
master of liberation), O Mukunda (giver of liberation), O Murantaka (killer of the Mura demon)," I will
place upon my neck the Lord's holy names, which eclipse the beauty of a splendid strand of pearls.
®r… Laksmidhara
35 O KŠa, O Balar€ma, O Mukunda, O Vamana, O Vasudeva, O master of the universe, O Matsya, O

Kurma, O Nrsimha, O Varaha, O R€macandra, please protect me. O Lord worshipped by the demigods,
demons, and great sages who have Narada as their leader, O ocean of mercy, O son of Devaki, please grant
me unwavering devotion to Your feet.
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36 O Gopalaka (cowherd boy), O Krpa-jala-nidhi (ocean of mercy), O Sindhukanya-pati (husband of

Laksmi), O Kamsantaka (killer of Kamsa), O Gajendra-karuna-parina (merciful saviour of Gajendra), O
Madhava (husband of Laksmi), O R€manuja (younger brother of Balar€ma), O Jagat-traya-guru (master of
the three worlds), O Pundarikaksa (lotus-eyed), O Gopijana-natha (master of the gopis), please protect me.
I do not accept anyone as the Supreme, except for You.
®r… VaiŠava
37 O ®r… Narayana, O Pundarika-nayana (lotus-eyed one), O ®r… R€ma, O Sita-pati (husband of

Sita), O Govinda, O Acyuta (infallible one), O Nandanandana (son of Nanda), O Mukunda (giver of
liberation), O Ananda (personified transcendental bliss), O Damodara (whose waist Mother Yasoda bound
with a rope), O Visnu, O Raghava (descendant of Raghu), O Vasudeva (son of Vasudeva), O Nrhari
(Nrsimha), O Devendra-cudamani (crest jewel of the demigods), O Samsararnava-karnadharaka (captain of
the boat for crossing the ocean of repeated birth and death), O Hari, O ®r… KŠa, I offer my respectful
obeisances to You.
®r… VaiŠava
38 O Bhandiresa (master of Bhandiravana), O Sikhanda-mandana (decorated with peacock feathers), O

Vara (Supreme Personality of Godhead), O ®r…khanda-liptanga (whose limbs are anointed with
sandalwood Paste), O Sphurad-amandendivara-syamala (whose dark complexion is like a splendid blue
lotus flower), O Kalindi-priya (fond of the Yamuna),O Nandanandana (son of Nanda), O Parananda (filled
with transcendental bliss), O Aravindeksana (lotus-eyed), O ®r… Govinda, O Mukunda, O Sundara-tanu
(handsome one), to me, who may very poor and weak, please give transcendental bliss.
®r… Gopala Bhatta
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®r… KŠa-katha-mahatmya
The Glory of the Description of ®r… KŠa
39 The message of the Upanisads is far from the nectar topics of Lord Hari. For this reason Upanisad
study does not result in a heart melting with emotion, or ecstatic symptoms, such as trembling, shedding
tears, or standing of hairs on the body.
®r… Bhagavan Vy€sapada
40 O Lord, I do not pray for heavenly happiness, I do not even aspire for liberation. Simply let, day
after day, the nectar of KŠa's transcendental pastimes flood my ears.
®r… Kaviratna
41 One who daily sings the glories of Yasoda's son, KŠa, which are cooling as sandalwood and
camphor, is not troubled by the days of Kali-yuga. For him at every step there is a torrential flood of the
sweetest nectar.
®r… Kaviratna
42 We have now plunged into the great nectar-ocean of the transcendental youthful pastimes of
Maharaja Nanda's son, KŠa. Of what use to us is the salt-water of impersonal liberation?
®r… Yadavendra Puri
43 O Lord, the saintly devotees, who happily play in the nectar ocean of the narration of Your glories,
think the four purusarthas (material piety, economic development, sense-gratification, and liberation)
insignificant as a blade of grass).
44 The Ganges, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, as well as all holy places of pilgrimage, stay where the
transcendental topics of the infallible Supreme Personality of Godhead are narrated.
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45 May Lord Madhava's pastimes, which bring a sense-pleasure stronger than that experienced by the
hedonists, a liberation more real than that felt by the yogis in their hearts, and a bliss more intense than that
tasted by the most expert drinkers of nectar, protect you.
®r… Sankara
®r… KŠa-dhyana
Meditation on ®r… KŠa
46 I worship Lord Govinda, whose complexion is the colour of a blooming blue lotus flower, whose
His face is like the moon, who is fond of wearing a peacock feather crown, who bears the mark of ®r…
vatsa, who wears a great Kaustubha gem, who is dressed in yellow garments, whose handsome form is
worshipped with offerings of the lotus flowers that are the gopis' glances, who is accompanied by a host of
surabhi cows and gopas, who is fond of sweetly playing the flute, and whose transcendental body is
decorated with glittering ornaments.
®r… Saradakara
47 His handsome form gracefully bending in three places, His beautiful earrings reaching to His
shoulders, the vines of His eyebrows slightly raised, His glance crooked, His delicate lips slightly pursed,
and His flower-blossom fingers moving restlessly, KŠa happily enchants the entire world as He fills His
flute with music under a kalpa-vrksa tree. In this way one may meditate on Lord KŠa.
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48 A garland of campaka flowers resting on His gracefully sloping shoulders, KŠa places the flute to
His lips. I eternally offer my respectful obeisances to KŠa, who was victorious over Kamsa.
®r… Purusottamadeva
49 His loosened hair crowned with a peacock-feather and flowing over His shoulders, His handsome
form bending in three places, and His feet crossing as He dances, merciful and charming KŠa plays His
flute. Such is the Lord whom I worship.
®r… Narada
Bhakta-vatsalyam
Love for the Devotees
50 Carrying Lord KŠa, undecorated, saying "Why?" as he rejects the jewel sandals a military
commander offers in his hand, and forgetting that they are inside the palace, the bird-king Garuda suddenly
leaves, making a sound like the trumpeting of elephants. I offer my respectful obeisances to the Lord's
swift departure.
®r… Daksinatya
Draupadi-trane tad-vakyam
Draupadi's Appeal for Protection
51 Lord KŠa, who is like a sun rising in the darkness, like a boat to the drowning, like a sweet
raincloud to those dying of thirst, like a fabulous wealth to the poverty-stricken, and like an infallible
physician to those afflicted with the most painful disease, has come to grant auspiciousness to us.
®r… Vy€sa
Bhaktanam mahatmyam
The Glory of the Devotees
52 To the saintly devotees of the Lord, headed by Prahlada, Narada, Parasara, Pundarika, Vy€sa,
Ambarisa, Suka, Saunaka, Bhisma, Dalbhya, Rukmangada, Uddhava, Vibhisana, and Arjuna, I offer my
respectful obeisances.
®r… Daksinatya
53 Maharaja Pariksit attained the highest perfection, shelter at Lord KŠa's lotus feet, simply by hearing
about Lord Visnu. Sukadeva Gosv€mi attained perfection simply by reciting ®r…mad-Bhagavatam.
Prahlada Maharaja attained perfection by remembering the Lord. The goddess of fortune attained
perfection by massaging the transcendental legs of Maha-Visnu. Maharaja Prthu attained perfection by
worshipping the Deity, and Akrura attained perfection by offering prayers unto the Lord. Vajrangaji
(Hanuman) attained perfection by rendering service to Lord R€macandra, and Arjuna attained perfection
simply by being KŠa's friend. Bali Maharaja attained perfection by dedicating everything to the lotus feet
of KŠa.*
54 I offer my respectful obeisances to the devotees of the Lord. Simply by hearing the two syllables
"KŠa", their bodily hairs stand up in ecstasy and they become moved to dance in ecstatic bliss. With their
sandals they expertly extricate the fallen souls deeply sunk in the fetid mud of the ocean of repeated birth
and death.
®r… Autkala
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55 By remembering Lord Hari, the devotees' hearts become overwhelmed with bliss, their bodily hairs
stand erect, and their eyes become filled with tears of joy. O earth, these devotees are the best of men.
Please carefully maintain them for long as the sun and the moon shine in the sky. What is the use of your
carefully maintaining those other burdensome persons who are simply intent on coming and going to and
from the house of Yamaraja?
®r… Sarvananda
56 O Lord, Your devotee sees the king of rivers as a handful of water, the sun as a firefly, Mount Meru
a clump of earth, the emperor of the world a servant, a multitude of cintamani jewels simply pebbles, a
valuable kalpa-druma tree a mere stick, the entire world a bunch of straw, and his own body a burden only.
®r… Sarvajna
57 They whose eyes are blinded by the dust of the Karma-mimamsa philosophy cannot fix their hearts
on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They whose intelligence is atrophied by illogical conclusions
dictated by pride stay far away from the topics of Lord Hari. They who understand the Vedas but cannot
become devotees of Lord KŠa do not actually understand the Vedas. Distributing the sweetest nectar with a
great ladle, these persons will not touch it with their own spoon.
®r… Madhava Sarasvati
58 Some are inclined to speculative knowledge and other are inclined to fruitive work. We, however,
are inclined to take shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Hari's servants.
®r… Madhava Sarasvati
59 Now that we have become Your devotees, Your holy names have affectionately created a jubilant
festival in our mouths. Your bodily splendour, like a dark raincloud, has become the black ointment of our
eyes and the music of Your flute has become the ornament of our ears. We no longer take pleasure in
material desires. O Almighty Lord, material desires no longer appear beautiful to us.
60 The elephant of my mind is drowning in the waters of material illusion. Strongly held by the
ferocious crocodile of the threefold miseries, it anxiously cries with fear in its heart. O Lord Hari, please
rescue it with Your glowing Sudarsana cakra, which cuts the sufferings of the demigods to pieces.
61 I am drowning in the painful, fathomless whirlpool of repeated birth and death. O Lord, O friend of
the shelterless, O effulgent moon of mercy, please, this one time, quickly extend Your hand to save me.
62 This mango tree in Vnd€vana is now overwhelmed by remembering You. It dances, moving it's
branches in the breeze. It sings in the form of these humming bees. It sheds tears in the form of these
many drops of honey. It hairs stand erect in ecstasy in the form of these new sprouts. O Mukunda, as dear
to me as my own life, why is this tree so filled with love for You? Who as I so hard-hearted that even Your
name will not enter my heart?
®r… Ÿsvara Puri
63 O Lord Hari, O form of mercy, You quickly rescued both Draupadi and Gajendra. What has
happened to that quick action now that I suffer so acutely?
®r… Autkala
64 O Lord Yadavendra, I am fallen. When I remember Your name Dina-bandhu (the friend of the
fallen) I become encouraged, and when I hear that You love Your devotees my heart trembles.
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®r… Jagannatha Sena
65 O Lord, Brahma and his associates offer prayers to You, Siva and his associates are full of love for
You, and Indra and the demigods are Your servants. Who are we in comparison to them?
®r… Dhananjaya
66 O Lord, no one is more merciful than You, and no one is more pathetic than I. I am very lowly and
fallen. O Lord Yadunatha, please reflect on my case and do to me whatever is appropriate.
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67 Beaten by the hundred whips of material sufferings, the horse of my mind runs wildly on the bad
road of the senses. O Lord Madhava, please pull up the reins of devotional service. Stop the horse and tie
it to the post of Your lotus feet.
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68 O Lord, in this birth I have not meditated on You, glorified You, even slightly worshipped You, or
developed any devotion for Your lotus feet. That is why I suffer in this condition. I am very poor and
fallen. O ®r… KŠa, O ocean of mercy, please be compassionate on me.
®r… Sankara
69 I have no goal in life, and I have committed countless sins. O Lord Hari, O Murari, You are my
shelter. O Madhusudana, O Vasudeva. O Visnu, all glories to You. O Jagadisa, please protect me, please
protect me.
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70 O Lord Murari, during the beginning, middle and end of all our days and nights, You always remain
the only goal of our lives.
®r… Daksinatya
71 O My Lord, O KŠa, son of Maharaja Nanda, I am Your eternal servant, but because of My own
fruitive acts, I have fallen in this horrible ocean of nescience. Now please be causelessly merciful to Me.
Consider Me a particle of dust at Your lotus feet.*
Bhaktanam nistha
The Devotees' Faith
72 We are not poets. We are not logicians. We are not philosophers who have crossed to the farther
shore of Vedanta. We are not eloquent debaters. We are the servants of a rascal cowherd boy.
®r… Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya
73 The talkative people will rebuke us. Is it not? We do not care. We will drink the liquor of love for
Lord Hari. We will become completely intoxicated. We will roll about on the ground. We will dance. We
will experience ecstasy.
74 I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a

householder, a vanaprastha or a sannyasi. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant
of the lotus feet of Lord ®r… KŠa, the maintainer of the gopis. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the
cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.*
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75 May the cowherd boy who is a festival of ecstatic bliss for the hearts of the fortunate creatures
residing in the groves of Govardhana Hill, who is the lover of the gopis, who eagerly enjoys pastimes in
Vnd€vana forest, and whose complexion is as splendid as a great sapphire, eternally enjoy transcendental
pastimes in our hearts.
®r… Isvara Puri
76 Those devoid to poetry may praise the nectar of poetry and those devoted to Vedic study may praise
the nectar of impersonal Brahman. We will praise neither. We will simply take shelter of a flutist who
wears a gunja-necklace.
®r… Yadavendra Puri
77 They who understand the inconceivable, impersonal absolute will find that pure transcendence in
their hearts. That is not, however, what is in our hearts. In our hearts resides a charming, lotus-faced, lotus
eyed person who wears golden garments and whose complexion is the colour of a dark raincloud.
®r… Kaviratna
78 My mind never prays for the post of an earthly king. The post of King Indra does not appeal to it.
It does not like the yogic perfections. It does not yearn after liberation. It only runs after the pure supreme
Brahman, who, bound by the vine of a gopi's arm, appears like a dark raincloud and stationary lightning
flash in the forest by the Yamuna's shore.
®r… Kaviratna
79 O my evening prayer, all good unto you. O my morning bath, I bid you good-bye. O demigods and
forefathers, please excuse me. I am unable to perform any more offerings for your pleasure. Now I have
decided to free myself from all reactions to sins simply by remembering anywhere and everywhere the
great descendant of Yadu and the great enemy of Kamsa (Lord KŠa). I think that this is sufficient for me.
So what is the use of further endeavours?*
®r… Madhavendra Puri
80 My ritual bath has wilted away, my religious duties are undone, my prayers at sunrise, noon and
sunset are unsaid, the four Vedas are unhappy, the host of other scriptures stay boxed in the heart, their
orders unfollowed, material piety is wounded at the core of its life, and a multitude of sins are annihilated,
for day and night my heart kisses the two lotus feet of Lord Yadavendra.
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81 I will become a servant of the son of Devaki. Because of my past karma the path may be rough or
smooth. What is that to me.
author unknown
82 Let the sharp moralist accuse me of being illusioned; I do not mind. Experts in Vedic activities may
slander me as being misled, friends and relatives may call me frustrated, my brothers may call me a fool,
the wealthier mammonites may point me out as mad, and the learned philosophers may assert that I am
much too proud; still my mind does not budge an inch from the determination to serve the lotus feet of
Govinda, though I be unable to do it.*
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83 The form of Syamasundara is the supreme form, the city of Mathura is the supreme abode, Lord
KŠa's fresh youth should always be meditated upon, and the mellow of conjugal love is the supreme
mellow.*
®r… Raghupati Upadhyaya
84 Liberation may appear before me. The enduring kingdom of Lord Brahma may also appear before
me. I do not care for them. I simply desire to serve Lord KŠa, the leader of the cowherd boys.
®r… Surottamacarya
85 O Vasudeva, You may make a king, or a poverty-stricken beggar. You may make others respect
me, or revile me. You may give residence in Vaikuntha or in hell. Whatever You do, You will always
remain the only goal of my life. No one else will ever become my goal.
®r…garbha Kavindra
86 He may show His own kingdom, or He may make me suffer the three-fold miseries. Whether I
suffer or enjoy, I pray that Lord Kesava never abandon me.
®r… Kaviraja Misra
Bhaktanam sautsukya-prarthana
The Devotees' Earnest Prayers
87 The drops of honey trickling from the two lotus flowers of Lord Nandanandana's feet are so many
oceans of transcendental bliss. I pray those drops of honey may eternally delight my heart.
®r…kar€c€rya
88 "Here our Lord herded the calves, and here He played the flute," I pray that I may pass my days
shedding tears as I speak these words on the Yamuna's shore.
89 The Supreme Personality of Godhead is decorated with yellow kadamba flowers. a yellow dhoti
girds His waist, He enjoys playing sweet flute music in the forest garden. I pray that my heart may become
fixed on Him.
®r… Govinda
90 May Lord KŠa, who has long reddish eyes, whose transcendental form is more charming than
millions of Kamadevas, who is very pleasing to the eyes, and who is the king of Vnd€vana village, appear
on the lotus flower of my heart.
®r… Bhavananda
91 I pray that Lord KŠa, the mischievous youth who is a flood of handsomeness, who is waves of
sweet charm, and who is the heart of mercy, may appear before me.
®r… Sarvabhauma Bhatt€c€arya
92 O Lord, I pray that I may take birth again and again in a place where my ears may drink the sweet
music of Your flute. What is the use of talking to me about impersonal liberation?
93 O Lord KŠa, I pray that the remnants of Your foodstuff may become as palatable to me as a
woman's lips are palatable for a materialist. I pray that the narration of Your pastimes may become as
sweet to my ears as the words of a young girl are sweet for a materialist. I pray that the sight of Your
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transcendental form may become as pleasing to my eyes as the beauty of a young bride is pleasing to her
husband. I pray that I may always chant Your holy name in the same way a lover reads aloud a letter from
his long-separated beloved.
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94 My dear Lord, when will My eyes be beautified by filling with tears that constantly glide down as I
chant Your holy name? When will My voice falter and all the hairs on My body stand erect in
transcendental happiness as I chant Your holy name?*
95 O Lord of the universe, I do not desire material wealth, materialistic followers, a beautiful wife or
fruitive activities described in flowery language. all I want, life after life, is unmotivated devotional service
to You.*
96 May Lord KŠa, who is a fresh raincloud over Govardhana Hill, a new blue lotus in the Yamuna
River, and a great tamala-tree in Vnd€vana forest, protect me from the three-fold miseries of material
existence. ®r… Gaudiya
97 I pray that the cowherd boy who expertly casts amorous glances from the corners of His restless
eyes, whose cheeks are decorated with glistening, beautiful, swinging shark-shaped earrings, and who is
very eager to enjoy the rasa dance with the beautiful girls of Vraja, may at once appear within my heart.
Bhaktanam utkantha
The Devotees' Yearning
98 The sruti-sastra is insignificant as a bunch of straw. Why do we now think in this way? Our eyes
have seen the Supreme Brahman enjoying pastimes with the gopis.
99 To whom can I speak who will believe me when I say that KŠa, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, is hunting the gopis in the bushes by the banks of the River Yamuna? In this way the Lord
demonstrates His pastimes.*
100 I have carefully understood Kanada's paR€manuvada philosophy. I have studied Gautama's nyaya
philosophy. I know Jaimini's karma-mimamsa philosophy. I have already travelled on the path of pseudo-
Kapila's sankhya philosophy. I have applied my mind to Patanjali's yoga philosophy. I have ardently
studied Vy€sa's Vedanta philosophy. None of these attracts me. It is the flood of sweetness from Lord
Nandasunu's flute that attracts my heart.
101 Eclipsing both the demigoddesses' artistry and the waves of sweetness flowing from their mouths,
the music of Lord Murari's flute makes my heart tremble.
102 A dark-complexioned thief has stolen my heart. Look! He has already stolen the sins of the
surrendered devotees, the life-breath of Putana, the bracelets and garments of the young gopis, and the eyes
and hearts of the saintly devotees.
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103 Enough with this talk of celestial planets! What is the use of a great kingdom on earth? Even the
opulence of liberation should go far away from me! In the groves by the Yamuna's shore a person whose
dark complexion is like a young tamala tree has now stolen my heart.
®r… Haridasa
104 We offer our respectful obeisances to the host of sapphires, gazed on, pleased, and lovingly
embraced by the gopis in the groves of Vnd€vana forest.
®r… Sarvavidyavinoda
105 When will I see Nanda's son? He is the protector of the devotees. He is garlanded with kadamba
flowers, and His forehead is decorated with glistening tilaka.
106 When, in Vnd€vana forest, which is glorified by the Yamuna's touch, will I continually wander,
filled with the longings of love, loudly chanting the transcendental pastimes of Gokula's king, KŠa and
thickly sprinkling the trees with streams of tears from my eyes.
®r… Rupa Gosv€mi
107 When will Lord Madhuripu's (KŠa's) sweet flute music, which dances with a lotus foot on the
unapproachable braided hair of the goddesses who are the Upanisads, suddenly enter my ear?
108 When will infant KŠa, charmingly decorated with a great peacock feather, wriggling His lotus toes,
and His lotus mouth placed on His mother's breast, enter the pathway of my eyes?
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109 O KŠa, who can forget Your face, which eclipses the beauty of the moon? Who can forget Your
splendid transcendental form delicate as a new tamala leaf?
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110 O KŠa, if, wearing a peacock-feather crown, playing the flute, Your form beautifully decorated with
various ornaments, and accompanied by the gopis, You glance on us and delight our eyes, then all the
desires sitting in our hearts become at once fulfilled.
Moksanadarah
Contempt for Liberation
111 Bhakti means devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Mukti means impersonal
liberation, where there is no longer any devotional service. Who is so foolish that, after attaining
devotional service, would still desire to attain this mukti?
®r… Sivamauni
112 O Lord, You are the master, and I am Your servant. I do not desire any kind of liberation from the
bonds of repeated birth and death that will also break our relationship.
®r… Hanuman
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113 Many intelligent people thirst after impersonal liberation. O friend, when my heart considers their
folly it becomes struck with wonder.
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114 "Who are you?"

"I am impersonal liberation."
"Why have you suddenly come here?"
"My lord, I have come because by constantly remembering Lord KŠa you are now qualified to
become His maidservant."
"Stay away! Why do you trouble a person like me? I have not done anything wrong. Your smell
alone will ruin the sweet fragrance of the sandalwood paste of my reputation as a devotee.
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®r… Bhagavad-dharma-tattvam
The Nature of Devotional Service
115 One who thinks the worshipable Deity form of Lord Visnu is a stone, the bona-fide spiritual master
is an ordinary man, the Vaisnava belongs to a caste in the varnasR€ma system, the water that has washed
the feet of Lord Visnu or the Vaisnavas, and that actually removes the sins of the Kali-yuga, is ordinary
water, the name of Lord Visnu, which is a sacred mantra that removes all sin, is an ordinary sound, or the
Supreme Lord Visnu is the same as other persons, is a resident of hell.
®r… Daksinatya
116 A tulasi leaf offered to the lotus feet of the Nrsimha SalagR€ma-sila destroys the sin of murder.
Water that has washed the lotus feet of the Nrsimha SalagR€ma-sila destroys the sin of theft. Foodstuff
offered to the Nrsimha SalagR€ma-sila destroys the sin of drinking liquor. Sincere surrender to the
Nrsimha SalagR€ma-sila destroys the sin of adultery with the wife of the spiritual master. Association with
the devotees of the Nrsimha SalagR€ma-sila destroys the sin of offenses tot he devotees. This is the
extraordinary glory of the Nrsimha SalagR€ma-sila.
®r… Agama
Naivedyarpana vijnaptih
Prayers for Offering Prasadam
117 O Lord Murari, as You enjoyed the palatable food presented by the wives of the brahmanas, the
meal offered by Vidura, the milk and yoghurt of the cows in Vraja, the handful of chipped rice from Your
friend Sudama Brahmana, the breast-milk of Mother Yasoda, and the delicious foods prepared by the young
girls of Vraja, I hope the offering I now place before You will also enjoy in he same way.
®r… R€manuja
118 O Lord Madhusudana, as You enjoyed the meal offered by Vidura, the foods presented by Kunti,
Your lunch on the peak of Govardhana Hill, the chipped rice of Sudama Brahmana, the breast milk offered
by Mother Yasoda, the meal offered by Bharadvaja Muni, the food offered by Sabarika, the many dishes
presented by the wives of the brahmanas, as well as the taste of the gopis' lips, I hope the offering of food I
now place before You You will enjoy in the same way.
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119 O Lord Hari, You greatly enjoyed the ksira presented by Syamala, the phanita presented by Kamala,
the laddus given by Bhadra, and the madhurasa offered by Candravali. I hope that the delicious food I have
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prepared under R€dh€rani's guidance, and I now place before You, You will enjoy a hundred times more
that what was offered by these other gopis.
®r… Mathura-mahima
The Glory of Mathura
120 O Mother Mathura, lotus-eyed Lord Hari left His wonderful Vaikuntha world and eagerly appeared
within your boundary. You are very fortunate and glorious in this world. We repeatedly offer our
respectful obeisances, bowing before you hundreds of times.
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121 When will I become fortunate to visit Mathura Puri and shed tears of bliss as I drink from the stream
of nectar words flowing from the mouths of the old guides there who say, "Here was Nanda Maharaja's
home. Here the cart was broken. Here Lord Damodara, who breaks the bonds of birth and death for His
devotees, was Himself tied up with ropes by Mother Yasoda"?
®r… Kavisekhara
122 Mathura, Lord KŠa's capitol, beautifully decorated with footprints marked with a cakra, flag, and
elephant-rod, where Brahma, who was born from a lotus flower and is the original guru of everyone,
yearned to take birth as a blade of grass, is splendidly manifest, even now
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123 May Mathura Puri, where two transcendental potencies, taraka, which is the seed of the tree of
liberation and the saviour from a host of sufferings, and paraka, which satisfies the thirst for the nectar of
pure love of KŠa, arise among the residents, crush all your sins and give you the treasure of pure love for
Lord KŠa.
124 O Mathura, even your master, Lord MuR€mardana, refuses to give the exalted stage of devotional
service you easily give to the devotees. O Mathura, words have no power to properly describe your glories.
125 Mathura is in my ears. Mathura is in my eyes. Mathura is in my voice. Mathura is in my heart.

Mathura is before me. Mathura is behind me. Mathura is sweet. Mathura is sweet.
®r… Govinda Misra
®r… Vrndatavi-vandanam
Obeisances to Vnd€vana
126 Go ahead and worship Lord Brahma! Go ahead and worship Lord Siva! Go ahead and worship the
Supreme Brahman! I will not follow you. I will simply worship Vnd€vana forest, which brought
transcendental delight to Lord KŠa.
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®r… Nanda-pranamah
Obeisances to Nanda Maharaja
127 Those who are afraid of material existence worship Vedic literature. Some worship smrti, the
corollaries to Vedic literature, and others worship the Mahabharata. As far as I am concerned, I worship
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Maharaja Nanda, the father of KŠa, in whose courtyard the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute
Truth, is playing.
128 I offer my respectful obeisances to Nanda Maharaja. His garments are red as a bandhuka flower.
His face is handsome. His chubby form is the golden colour of sandalwood paste. His eyes are enchanted
by the sight of Lord Mukunda.
®r… Yasoda-vandanam
Obeisances to Mother Yasoda
129 Mother Yasoda holds Lord Pankajanabha (KŠa) on her lap. Her garments are wonderfully
beautiful. Her complexion is the colour of a fresh raincloud. She delights the entire world. I repeatedly
offer my respectful obeisances to her. ®r… Rupa Gosv€mi
®r… KŠa-saisavam
®r… KŠa's Childhood
130 Lying on His back, His hands and feet charmingly reddish, and His forehead gracefully decorated
with yellow gorocana tilaka markings, Lord Murari violently overturned the cart. I offer my respectful
obeisances to Him.
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131 His eyes half-opened, Lord Visnu drinks the milk of His mother's breast. Finishing one breast, with
His hand He rubs the other, from which the milk has already begun to flow. His mother fondles Him with
her fingers. He smiles. May the white splendour of Lord Visnu's teeth, which are anointed with drops of
milk, protect you all.
®r… Mangala
132 His restless eyes ignoring the face of the queen of the gopas, and His lips anointed with the sweet
nectar of a smile, a infant crawls on the ground with His knees. I worship that infant, whose complexion is
the dark colour of a tamala leaf.
®r… Raghunatha dasa
133 The gopis asked: "Where is Your face?" Where are Your eyes? Where is Your nose? Where are
Your ears? Where is the top of Your head?" With each question the Lord place His flower-petal finger in
the appropriate spot. In this way the infant Lord delighted the gopis.
®r… Kavi Sarvabhauma
134 KŠa, one moment I carefully bathe and anoint You, and the next moment You are again covered
with dust!
135 His hair getting in His eyes, and His bells, bracelets, necklaces, and anklets all tinkling, the restless
five year old son of Maharaja Nanda runs in the courtyard. All of you please bow down to offer respect to
Him.
®r… Agama
Saisave 'pi tarunyam

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Adolescence Manifested in Childhood
136 Child KŠa approached a gopi and carefully placed His lips against her lips, His neck against her
neck, His eyes against her eyes, and His forehead against her forehead. Speaking sweetly, He explained
that He was, after all, only a small child, and then He pressed Himself against her breasts for a long time.
He then smiled and the hairs of His body stood up with excitement. May child KŠa, whose body appeared
to be too young to enjoy amorous pastimes, protect you all.
®r… Divakara
137 The gopis complained: "We will tell Your mother what You have done, how, even though You
pretend to be only a small child, You enjoy amorous pastimes with the doe-eyed girls, delighting their eyes
in the caves of Govardhana Hill." In the view of all these gopis, baby KŠa cleverly placed a finger in His
mouth and began to suck on it to refute their arguments. May baby KŠa purify the entire world.
®r… Vanamali
138 While on His father's lap, Lord Vanamali acts as a small child, although when He is alone with the
young gopis, He exchanges amorous smiles.
®r… Mukunda Bhattacarya
139 Mother Yasoda asked child KŠa: "How much butter did You take?" In the presence of all the
grown-ups child KŠa grasped Dhanistha's breast and said "This much."
®r… Saranga
140 Child Kesava said to a young gopi: "Thief, where are you going? Have I not caught you stealing?
Under your bodice you are hiding My two toy balls! Give them up!" His bodily hairs standing erect with
joy, He violently attacked that young gopi's breasts to retrieve His toyballs. All glories to Lord Kesava,
who enjoyed these extraordinary pastimes in Gokula Village.
®r… Dipaka
Gavya-haranam
Stealing Milk-products
141 Seeing a pot of butter in the distance, baby Kesava quickly crawled there, anxiously turning His face
out of fear of His mother. I worship these childhood pastimes of the Lord.
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142 As child Hari was stealing butter He noticed His own reflection in a nearby jewelled column.
Thinking this to be another boy, He became frightened and begged: "You are My friend. I will share this
butter with You. Please don't tell on Me! Don't tell on Me!" May child Hari protect you all.
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143 Awakened at daybreak by the sounds of yoghurt-churning, on silent feet child KŠa stealthily entered
the gopis' home, extinguished the lamps with His lotus breath, and stole a handful of butter. I pray child
KŠa may protect me.
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144 Silencing His belt of bells by holding it in His left hand, gently smiling, arching His back, creeping
up on His tip-toes, and with a crooked glance warding off the smiling gopis standing before Him, child Hari
stole butter behind His mother's back.
®r… ®r…man
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145 Taking two or three steps in the doorway, turning His restless eyes in all directions, smiling and
intent on stealing yoghurt, child Madhuripu (KŠa) fearfully enters the house.
146 Rubbing His hand against the corner of His mouth, which had become oily and fragrant from eating
the stolen milk-products, repeatedly smelling His hand, silencing His belt of bells, and with restless eyes
glancing in all directions, the tricky child Gopala slowly approached His mother.
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Hareh svapnayitam
Lord Hari Speaks in His Sleep
147 Hearing sleeping KŠa say, "Siva, welcome! Sit down. Brahma, you sit at my left. Karttikeya!
Auspiciousness to you. Indra! Happiness to you. Kuvera! I did not see you." Mother Yasoda said" "Child!
What, what nonsense are You saying?" I pray these words of Mother Yasoda will protect you all.
®r… Mayura
148 Hearing Vasudeva's son KŠa say in His sleep, "Mother Earth, please become calm. Know that your
burden will certainly be removed. Have I not already practically killed the demon Kamsa?" The gopis
became stunned with wonder. All glories to these words Lord KŠa spoke in His sleep.
®r… Vasudeva
Pitror vismaana-siksanai
Instructions and Other Pastimes that fill KŠa's Parents with Wonder
149 The gopas confidently said: "I did not see KŠa at the Yamuna's shore. I did not see Him on
Govardhana Hill or at the outskirts of Vraja Village. I did not see Him at the base of the banyan tree. I did
not see Him in the courtyard of R€dh€'s father Maharaja Vrsabhanu." As Nanda Maharaja became struck
with wonder to hear all this, smiling KŠa slipped out of the house, from right under Nanda's nose. May
KŠa protect you all.
®r… Umapatidhara
150 Mother Yasoda said, "Child, when You take care of the cows far away in the forests or the caves of
Govardhana Hill, and You see dangerous wild animals, then You should meditate on the ancient Supreme
Person, Lord Narayana, and He will protect You." As Lord KŠa heard these words it was only with great
difficulty that He prevented a smile from appearing on His bimba-fruit lips. May that suppressed smile
protect all the worlds.
®r… Abhinanda
151 "There was once a king named R€ma."

"Yes"
"His wife was Sita."
"Yes"
"On the order of His father, R€ma lived in the Pancavati forest. There Ravana kidnapped Sita."
As Lord KŠa heard His mother narrate His own activities performed in ancient times, He suddenly
called out: "Laksmana! Where is My bow? Where is My bow? Where is my bow?" I pray these alarmed
words of Lord KŠa may protect you all.
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152 "O my rising dark moon, my child, You are not asleep?"
"No. Sleep has not yet come to Me."
"Listen, my son. I will tell You a bedtime story that will make You fall asleep."
"What is this story I have never heard? Please tell it."
Mother Yasoda then told the story. When she came to the sentences, "Then Lord Nrsimha appeared
from the pillar. Lord Nrsimha was very eager to rip the demon to shreds", a smile suddenly arose on child
KŠa's lips.
®r… Sarvananda
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Go-raksadi-lila
Protecting the Cows and Other Pastimes
153 Wearing a crown, and His hand on the head of a cane, the Lord loudly sings the song sung by bulls
when they challenge each other for the sake of a cow. Hearing the challenge, two large, arrogant bulls
appear and for a long time remain absorbed in the arts of battle. I pray Lord Murari, the playful cowherd
boy who enjoys pastimes of protecting the cows and bulls, will always protect you.
®r… Yogesvara
154 When the cowherd boys become intoxicated by the sweet sounds of the flute, and with unblinking
eyes drink the sight of Lord Mukunda, then the unattended cows, eager for soft grasses to eat, wander far
away and enter the caves of Govardhana Hill.
®r… Kesavacchatri
Gopinam premotkarsah
The Exalted Nature of the Gopis' Love
155 With an air of peaceful respectability the gopis placed nice garments around their hips and went to
enjoy amorous pastimes with KŠa in a solitary place. The sound of KŠa's flute stunned their vow of
chastity, their attachment to their husband's homes, and all the protections offered by their elders.
156 When the beautiful-eyed girls of Vraja saw Lord KŠa they wished all their senses with eyes, and
when they heard the waves of music from His flute they wished all their senses were ears.
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Gopibhih saha lila

Pastimes with the Gopis
157 Removing their silk saris, the young gopis eagerly sported in the waters of the Yamuna. After some
time they intently looked in all directions, and then, certain that no one was watching, emerged from the
bodies and carefully dried their naked bodies. Meanwhile hidden in a nearby forest grove, Lord KŠa had
been watching their every movement for a long time. At a certain moment He began to play His flute. All
glories to Lord KŠa's tricky flute-music, which completely charms the girls of Vraja.
Tasu KŠasya bhavah

Lord KŠa's Love for the Gopis
158 The gracefully moving gopis captured Lord KŠa's heart. His hands perspired and trembled. Lord
KŠa, whose form was bent in three places, was unaware that the flute had dropped from His lotus-bud
hands and fallen to His lotus feet. He began to blow into what He thought was His flute, but no sound
emerged. All glories to that soundless blowing of Lord KŠa.
®r… Ciranjiva
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®r…-KŠasya prathama-darsane ®r…-R€dh€-prasnah
®r…mati R€dh€rani's Inquiry on First Seeing ®r… KŠa
159 Friend, who is this person? His body is like a new black nikasa stone. He wears earrings of asoka
buds. The vines of eyebrows dance on His charming, handsome face. I am overcome by the sound of His
flute.
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160 Who is this teen-age boy? a charming pearl-necklace decorates His chest. He is dressed in
garments the colour of molten gold. The splendid complexion is the brother of the blue lotus whorl. He
fills the world with amorous passion.
Sakhya uttaram
The Reply of R€dh€'s Gopi-friend
161 He is dark-complexioned boy who plays very beautiful music. What girl will not tremble at heart
by hearing His music for even a moment?
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®r…-R€dh€yah purva-ragah
The Beginning of R€dh€'s Love
162 Unhappy-faced R€dh€ said to Her friends: "My heart is wounded by Kama's arrow. My body is
now filled with the symptoms of love."
163 Since in the forest by the Yamuna, I saw this person whose complexion is the colour of a dark
raincloud, My heart has been trembling like a drop of water on a lotus leaf.
®r… Kavicandra
164 Friend, one time, as I walked on the path to the Yamuna's bank I saw a boy whose complexion was
the colour of a dark raincloud. What spell did He cast on Me when He glanced at Me with those crooked
eyes? I do not know. Since that time My heart is always very agitated. It no longer allows Me to perform
My household duties.
®r… Jayanta
165 First I saw a splendid blue effulgence. Then I smelled the fragrance of musk. Then I heard graceful
flute music. Then I heard the sweet tinkling of a sash of bells. Then I saw waves of wonderful
handsomeness encircled by a vine that was a stationary lightning flash. Then I became filled with bliss.
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166 O beautiful friend, as He played the flute for a long time on the Yamuna's shore, the playful
debauchee Madhava stole My heart.
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167 Since with My own eyes I saw KŠa's pastimes in the vanira grove on the Yamuna's shore, My heart
has not allowed Me to perform My household chores. What should I do? I do not know what to do.
®r… Kavicandra
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168 O My friend, since the moon of KŠa's face has appeared within the perception of My eyes, My mind
has lost all discrimination. It no longer has the power to distinguish between the cooling Malayan breeze
and the blazing fire.
®r… Sanjaya Kavisekhara
169 It is wrong, wrong, wrong! Alas! Alas! I saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari, and I
thought He was an ordinary cowherd boy!
®r… Sarana
170 Friend, when I see KŠa, who wears a garland of forest-flowers, why does My mouth become dry,
My thighs become stunned, My heart tremble, and My cheeks perspire?
171 Friend, I have seen an autumn full-moon shining above a tamala tree. This moon's flute music
mocks My chastity.
172 O moon-faced friend, the gentle breezes, the moon, and the scent of sandalwood torment My heart.
It is not happy. It yearns to see My lover, KŠa.
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173 Alas! Alas! KŠa's flute makes Me completely forget the rebukes of My elders, My own growing
infamy, and the harsh actions of My husband.
174 My wealth, home, children, friends, and f€mily all seem important only as long as Vanamali KŠa
does not glance on Me with dancing eyes on the Yamuna's shore.
175 Let My enemies be pleased to find fault with Me. Let My husband punish Me again and again. I do
not care. Lord KŠacandra, who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vnd€vana forest, will always be the
precious jewel that decorates My breasts.
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176 Let My husband beat Me! Let My enemies laugh in My face! Let My parents and elderly relatives
shame Me before My husband! Let My whole f€mily become polluted! I do not care. My heart will
continue to love Balar€ma's younger brother, KŠa.
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177 My husband is angry? Let him be angry. My friends rebuke Me? Let them. Let there fall upon Me
whatever other catastrophe there may be in this world. I do not care. I simply wish that My eyes may
eternally drink the nectar of KŠa's handsome form.
®r… Puskaraksa
178 O messenger-friend, if KŠa would walk on the pathway of My eyes, then My birth will become
fruitful. What is the use of this impossible desire? Who is able to perform the pious activities to obtain
this?
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179 O friend, I am very unfortunate. If the sound of KŠa's flute fell once again on the pathway of My
ears, I would not care even whether or not I had the fortune to see Him.
180 O moon surrounded by stars on the fourth night on the month of Bhadra, O lord, O moon making
tidal waves in the ocean of amorous desire, I respectfully offer arghya water to you and I bow down before
you. I pray (that by your mercy) my desire to become the beloved of youthful KŠa will become fulfilled in
truth.
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Anya-catura-sakhi-vitarkah
The Guess of Another Expert Gopi-Friend
181 Friend, I cannot say for certain why R€dh€'s eyes are rolling about in this way. Perhaps She was
touched by the flute-music breeze blowing from the Supreme Personality of Godhead under the kadamba
tree.
®r… Ranga
R€dh€m prati sakhi-prasnah

A Gopi-friend's Question to ®r…mati R€dh€rani
182 The hairs stand erect on Your body. Your eyes are full of tears. Your words are choked-up. Your
chest heaves with sighs. O moon-faced friend, I know it is the sweetness of Mukunda's flute music that
makes Your heart tremble.
®r… Ranga
183 "O fickle-hearted girl, I know You broke the vow of a faithful wife, and I know the harsh words
You exchanged with Your husband and relatives. Still You will not give up this affair with KŠa. Why is it
so hard for You to give Him up?"
"My beautiful-faced friend, what will I do? When I hear the sound of KŠa's flute My heart cannot
find a moment's peace."
author unknown
184 Let Me become infamous as KŠa's mistress! I don't care. Tell me the truth. When it heard the
sound of KŠa's flute, what happened to your heart?
author unknown
185 You speak the truth. It is true that the harsh rebukes of My superiors are very hard to bear. It is true
that My f€mily's reputation is spotless. It is true that this friend KŠa is merciless. It is true that the
Yamuna is very far away. Still, when the beautiful, intoxicating sound of KŠa's flute music becomes a
guest in My ears, I immediately forget all of this.
®r… Govinda Bhatta
®r…-R€dh€m prati sakhi-narmasvasah

A Gopi's Joking Words of Encouragement to ®r…mati R€dh€rani
186 The night is filled with clouds. Darkness has swallowed the world. You are a young girl and Your
body is filled with unprecedented, ever-fresh, playful, graceful beauty. O beautiful-faced girl, what is the
use of Your sleeping like this in a House in Vraja Village? Wake up! At this moment KŠa, whose dark
23
complexion is the colour of a young tamala tree, and who is the Deity of the kadamba forest, wanders about
in the night.
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®r… KŠam prati ®r…-R€dh€nuraga-kathanam
®r…mati R€dh€rani's Love is Described to Lord KŠa
187 When this girl, whose face is like the full moon, gazes at Your picture, She transforms You into
black mascara anointing Her eyes. When She hears about You, She makes You into a blue lotus flower on
Her ear. In Her heart She meditates on You as a new sapphire decorating Her breast.
author unknown
188 O KŠa, O killer of the Mura demon, Your absence has so stunned beautiful-faced R€dh€rani that as
She talks at night with Her friends She cannot remember whether She took any betelnuts, whether betelnuts
are in Her hand, or betelnuts in Her mouth.
®r… Harihara
189 O Lord of the universe, Her body licked by the flames of love for You, R€dh€ fell from Her bed to
the floor and could not rise again.
®r… Kavicandra
190 O KŠa, how can I describe the greatness of fawn-eyed R€dh€'s love for You? Even though She has
fallen into the ocean of suffering, She still loves You deeply.
®r… Kavicandra
191 R€dh€ taught Her caged parrot to recite the words of Your letter. She turned Your letter into a song
She sings to the accompaniment of flute and vina.
®r… Govardhanacarya
®r…-R€dh€m prati ®r…-KŠanuraga-kathanam

®r… KŠa's Love is Described to ®r…mati R€dh€rani
192 O R€dh€, in Vraja Village are there not very many lotus-eyed gopis expert in amorous pastimes and
completely in love with Murari? What great austerities did You perform to make Damodara love You so
much?
author unknown
193 He will not take care of the calves. He does not play the flute. He is not pleased by the cooling
breezes blowing into the forest from the Yamuna River. He sits in the forest grove with His head bowed
down. O beautiful girl, in His heart the son of Nanda sighs for You.
®r… Daityari Pandita
194 KŠa is the best of lovers. He is the most expert in all the arts of amorous love. He is the most
handsome. He loves You. O heroine of Vraja Village, if He begs You, You should respond to His
advances. You should worship Him. What greater love could You find in all the world?
®r… Ranga
®r…-R€dh€bhisarah
The Meeting with R€dh€
195 Move Your feet softly. Wear these dark blue garments. Cover Your bracelets with the edge of
Your sari. Don't talk. O reckless girl, the autumn moonlight of Your teeth dispels the darkness.
®r… Sanmasika
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196 The gopis said: "What kind of path is this? It turns like the winding coils of an angry snake. Why
must we tolerate this?" Repeatedly remembering the gopis harsh words and prayers that the moonlight
would light up the darkness, lotus eyed R€dh€ cast in the direction of the very faint moon an angry glance
from the reddish corner of Her eyes. She forbade the moon to shine.
197 O Madhava, how can we describe R€dh€'s reckless fear of the serpent engraved on Her medallion?
As She walked on the path to secretly meet You in the middle of the night, She became so afraid the
effulgence of the jewel on that serpent's hood would light up and the darkness She covered it with Her
hand.
author unknown
®r…-R€dh€m prati sakhi-vakyam

A Gopi-friend's Statement to ®r…mati R€dh€rani
198 Say something to the splendidly smiling infallible Personality of Godhead who stands before You
filled with amorous desire. O fawn-eyed girl, sprinkle Him with the flooding nectar of Your amorous
glance.
author unknown
199 My dear friend, You have already sold Yourself and all Your beauty to Govinda. Now You should
not be bashful. Please look upon Him cheerfully. One who has sold an elephant to another person should
not make a miserly quarrel about selling the trident which controls the elephant.*
200 With affectionate R€dh€rani, who is very expert at the art of embracing, peacock feather crowned
KŠa enjoyed a great festival to welcome the arrival of Kamadeva.
®r… Kaviraja Misra
201 This forest grove resembles even though there is no wind. Someone must be here. We don't see
anyone. The cowherd boys have all fled from this place in terror. In this place there is only R€dh€'s friend
KŠa, who enjoys pastimes of loudly playfully, ferociously and frighteningly roaring like a tiger. May Lord
KŠa delight you all.
author unknown
Kridanantaram janatinam sakhinam narmoktih

Joking Words of Gopi-Friends Aware of the Divine Couple's Intimate Pastimes
202 The gopis said: "What passionate lover made this couch of new flower-petals here in the middle of
this solitary grove of nicula trees?" I pray that ®r… R€dh€-Madhava's smiling glances at these joking
gopis may protect you all.
®r… Rupadeva
Mugdha-bala-vakyam
The Words of an Innocent Child
203 A very young gopa said: "KŠa, deep in the forest I found Your forest flower garland and peacock-
feather necklace in this gopi's hair. Someone must have taken them from You. Please take them back."
Hearing these words, R€dh€ and Madhava glanced at each other. all glories to Their gently smiling,
embarrassed glances.
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®r… Laksmana Sena
®r…-R€dh€ya saha dinantara-kelih atra sakhi-vakyam

A Gopi-friend Alludes to R€dh€'s Pastimes with Lord KŠa on the Previous day
204 O girl whose breasts are like waterpots, You are very tired. Why churn yoghurt now? At this
moment Lord Murari sweetly plays His flute in the forest.
Tasyah sakuta-vakyam
Her Reply with a Hidden Meaning
205 My mother-in-law is suspicious. My sisters-in-law watch My every move, licking Me with their
eyes. My husband sighs with jealousy. My enemies sniff about to discover My intentions. I cannot go
with You now. From a distance please accept My respects with folded hands. What is the use of these
crooked sidelong glances? O friend expert at relishing transcendental mellows, these endeavours to
convince Me to go with You are all useless.
author unknown
206 When Lord KŠa arrived in R€dh€'s courtyard for Their rendezvous, His tinkling ornaments sounded
as the cooing of cuckoos and other birds. He suddenly heard the door open, and He also heard the continual
jingling sounds of conchshell bracelets. When He heard the arrogant Jarati call out, "Who's there? Who's
there?" He became pained at heart. He spent that entire night hiding in a tree in a corner of the courtyard.
®r… Hara
207 Mother Yasoda said to KŠa: "My child, I invited R€dh€ to a party at night. Her husband wasn't at
home. She left Her empty home and came here. When She came the servants were very agitated and said:
"How can a chaste wife travel about all alone? How can She return to Her home unaccompanied? For this
reason, my child, I want You to escort Her home." When R€dh€ and Madhava heard Mother Yasoda's
words, They glanced at each other. All glories to Their sweetly smiling gentle glances.
208 One day R€dh€ accidentally met KŠa in the forest. She said: "I am going. O Acyuta, what
happiness will I get by seeing You? If a girl stays in a secluded place with a man her reputation is ruined."
After saying these crooked hints, R€dh€ feigned unhappiness and remained motionless. Lord KŠa suddenly
embraced Her, making the hairs of His body stand up with joy. I pray Lord KŠa will protect you all.
author unknown
Sakhi-narma
Joking words of a Gopi-friend
209 O friend, You are trembling. The hairs on Your body are standing up. You have run into the house
from outside. O beautiful girl, You must certainly have been attacked by the black snake of Lord KŠa.
Punar anyedyur abhisarika tatra sakhi-vakyam

A Gopi-friend Encourages ®r…mati R€dh€rani to Meet Lord KŠa
210 O khanjana-eyed girl, at this moment in the forest groves lotus-eyed KŠa is decorating the gopis'
hair with splendid springtime flowers. For this reason we say: You are the best of all girls expert at
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relishing transcendental pastimes. Why do You not take Your hands from this housework and go to Him?
There is not a moment to lose.
Pariksana-karinim sakhim prati ®r… R€dh€-vakyam

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Reply to a Questioning Gopi-friend
211 (One day, as R€dh€ was hurrying to meet KŠa in the forest, a gopi-friend met Her and asked why
She was hurrying so quickly. R€dh€ said:) "I'm embarrassed. Has lightning struck My door? Does the
Yamuna flood My house? Do snakes stare at Me with angry eyes? Are these the reasons for My haste, or
is the reason that I have eternally offered My body and life to Lord KŠa?"
author unknown
212 After two or three steps, She thinks Her toy lotus flower a burden and sets it down by the road.
After three or four steps She sets down the garland of jasmine flowers decorating Her braids, and after five
steps She removes the pearl-necklace from Her neck. Then slender R€dh€, unhappy that the meeting is so
far away, and Her heart trembling with love for KŠa, rebukes Her hips for being so heavy, but She cannot
abandon them, and so She is forced to carry them.
author unknown
Vasaka-sajja
®r…mati R€dh€rani Makes Careful Arrangements
for the Rendezvous with Lord KŠa
213 O messenger friend, why don't you stop decorating Me with flowers, and decorate the bed in this
forest-cottage instead. Look! Playful, blinding darkness now covers Vnd€vana forest. My heart hopes that
here I will meet Lord KŠa, the prince of the gopas.
Utkanthita
®r…mati R€dh€rani Longs to Meet KŠa
214 My friend, perhaps some other women enticed KŠa with lute-music? Perhaps she won Him in a
gambling match? The night is very beautiful. The sepahali flowers are in bloom. The moon has already
half traversed the sky. Some other woman have lured My lover, KŠa. Otherwise, why is He so late in
coming here?
author unknown
215 Unhappy sleep does not come near Me. My heart counts His virtues but not His faults. The night
ends, but My desire to meet Him does not end. My body has become weak and thin, but My love for Him
has not become weak at all.
®r… Kanka
Vipralabdha
®r…mati R€dh€rani is Separated From Lord KŠa
216 Messenger friend, get up! Let us go. The hour is passed, and still He has not come. A girl who can
remain alive in this situation certainly has the god of life in her control.
®r… Kanka
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Khandita
®r…mati R€dh€rani is Cheated by Lord KŠa
217 At daybreak seeing marks of red lac on KŠa's forehead, the impression of armlets on His neck, black
mascara on His mouth, and the red betel stains around His eyes, doe-eyed R€dh€ suddenly stopped sighing.
Decorated with intense anger, She was like a red lotus flower.
®r… Autkala
Tasya vakyam
Her Words
218 What is the use of these lies? Stop! Stay, O debauchee, with the girl who placed these glistening red
scratch marks on Your chest. What do You want with an honest girl like Me?
®r… Rudra
219 Filled with hundreds of lusty desires, Your beautiful new mistress pretends she loves You in her
heart. I am not like her. What is the use of pretending to fall at My feet?
®r… Rudra
220 O Madhava, even when You do not wear ornaments You enchant My heart. How much more
enchanting You are decorated with the nice scratch-marks of this other girl.
®r… Visvanatha
Khandanapta-nirvedayas tasya vakyam

The Statement of ®r…mati R€dh€rani Is Depressed Because She was Cheated by Lord KŠa,
Who Failed to Appear at the Rendezvous
221 Now all My endeavours have come to an end. Now My heart is crushed. Now My last hopes have
left and I am on the verge of giving up this life. Now the cuckoos, springtime, moon, and all the others
famous for killing lovers separated from their beloved, torment My heart.
222 Dear Mr Cupid, please doe not excite Me by throwing your arrows at My body. Dear Mr Air,
please do not arouse Me with the fragrance of flowers, I am now bereft of KŠa's loving attitude, and so,
under the circumstances, what is the use of My sustaining this useless body? There is no need for such a
body by any living entity.*
Puanh sayam ayati madhave sakhi-siksa

When Lord KŠa Returned in the Evening, a Gopi-friend Spoke the Following Instructions
223 Now You should be angry with this expert cheater KŠa. Being gentle to a debauchee will bring
only suffering.
Manini
The Angry Gopi
224 Say it! What is the use of these tricky lies? Beloved, go now. It is not Your fault at all. Destiny is
against us. If You love me, do this. Alas! What suffering have I not seen in this wretched, fickle life?
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®r… Amaru
225 O cheater, to the gopis who have accidentally come here, what are You? O Lord Hari, these girls
don't love You. How can You cheat them? I alone have fallen hopelessly in love with You. You are dear
to me as life.
NiskR€mati krsne sakhi-vakyam

A Gopi-friend's Words as KŠa's Departs
226 Why do you tilt your neck and stare at Him? Friend, let KŠa go. Let Him go. Only a fool will treat
this tricky debauchee like the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
®r… KŠa-duti-vakyam
KŠa's Message Sent Through a Gopi-messenger
227 O beautiful one, for plunging You into this ocean of love don't be eternally angry with Me. O
charming one, have You not heard how poison is produced by churning nectar?
®r… Ranga
228 O moon-faced girl, O affectionate one, don't turn from My words. O charming one, how many
pious activities must one perform in order to hear My words, which are carefully kept secret from even the
Personified Vedas?
®r… Ranga
Dutim prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Statement to the Gopi-messenger
229 Enough! Stop saying the name of this merciless person! Again the time is passed talking of Him! O
gopi-messenger, tell Me again what He said! Tell Me! Careful attention should be given to the words of the
enemy.
®r… Angada
Kalahantaritam tam prati daksina-sakhi-vakyam

A Gentle-hearted Friend's Statement to a Gopi Who has quarrelled with Lord KŠa
230 O pious girl, first You refuse to see His love, then you insult your friends, and now You are
suddenly angry with Your lover. Still, I can see that you are burning in the flames of separation from KŠa,
and your anger at Him is like crying in the wilderness.
®r… Amaru
Karkasa-sakhi-vakyam
Harsh Words from a Gopi-Friend
231 O fair-complexioned gopi, please do not loosen and untie the knot of Your anger. KŠa does not like
gentle saintliness. A cheater does not think honesty is a virtue.
30
Tam prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam
®r…mati R€dh€rani's Reply
232 I repeatedly practiced knitting My eyebrows. I studied how to stare without blinking. Again and
again I practiced remaining silent with a sarcastic smile. I studied how to keep My heart steady and not
lose My composure. I can practice how to be angry with KŠa, but My final success still remains in the
hands of fate.
®r… Amaru
233 O Alansangi, I know how to display an angry silence. I know how to speak crooked sarcastic
words, and I know how to angrily knit My eyebrows in hundreds of ways. If I do not become overwhelmed
by the sound of the flute on Lord KŠa's lotus mouth, I know how to display all these angry features.
author unknown
234 Yes, My friend, I have heard that KŠa is a debauchee always searching for new lovers. Still, My
heart trembles with love for Him. I pacified My heart with many logical arguments and was able to chase
the love from it, but then, in the next moment I found Myself devoured by the sweet sound of KŠa's flute.
®r…man Prabhupada
235 When My lover, KŠa, stands before Me and speaks sweet words, do all My senses become ears, or
do they become eyes? I do not know.
author unknown
236 When I gaze at KŠa, the creator Brahma does not transform all My senses into eyes. When I hear
about KŠa's transcendental qualities, Brahma does not transform all My senses into ears. When I speak
with KŠa, Brahma does not transform all My limbs into mouths. Brahma does not know anything about
drinking the nectar of KŠa.
®r… Sarana
Sakhyah sabhyasuya-vakyam
Jealous Words from a Gopi-friend
237 O honest, upright friend, You are very pure in heart, and this flutist KŠa is very crooked. because
He is so crooked, with His form bending in three places, the crooked vaijayanti garland finds it very easy to
rest on His chest.
Ksubhita-radhikoktih
Words of Agitated R€dh€rani
238 Now that I can no longer see the face of My lover, KŠa, sighs burn My mouth, My heart is torn
from His roots, sleep refuses to come to Me, I cry day and night, My limbs have dried up, and I simply wait
for the footsteps of My beloved KŠa. O friends, what quality of KŠa will I remember so I may become
angry with Him?
®r… Amaru
31
Manaja-virahena dhyayantim tam prati kasyascid vakyam
A Gopi's Words to ®r…mati R€dh€rani,
Who was Meditating on Lord KŠa in Separation
239 You refuse to eat. You have stopped all activities of the senses. Your eyes are fixed on the tip of
Your nose, and Your mind is fixed on a single thought. You are now silent, and You see the entire world as
a void. Friend, please tell me, have You become a mystic yogini, or are You rapt in meditation on KŠa?
author unknown
Tam prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakhyam

240 Separation from KŠa is better than meeting Him. When I meet Him there is only one KŠa, but
when I am separated from Him the three worlds become filled with KŠas.
author unknown
KŠa-virahah
KŠa's Feelings of Separation
241 His heart agitated in separation from a certain gopi, Lord KŠa sat down in the dark shade of the
vetasi trees by the Yamuna's shore. Without using His tongue or palate, He played flute melodies as sweet
as the warbling of the cuckoos. May those melodies protect you all.
author unknown
®r… KŠanunaya-R€dh€-prasadanam
R€dh€ and KŠa Become Pleased With Each Other
242 In the presence of His elders KŠa moved His head so it's shadow appeared at R€dh€'s feet. R€dh€
responded by moving the vines of Her arms so their shadows embraced KŠa. In this way R€dh€ and KŠa
ended Their playful lover's quarrel and became again pleased with each other as Their unsuspecting elders
looked on. All glories to R€dh€ and KŠa's again becoming pleased.
®r… Hara
®r… KŠam prati ®r…-R€dh€-sakhi-vakyam

Words of R€dh€'s Gopi-friend to Lord KŠa
243 R€dh€ is completely red with love for You. Her love is not like the redness of a gunja berry, which
is red not only on the surface, but through and through. O clever-talking KŠa, the redness of Your love for
Her is not in Your heart but only in Your mouth, just as a parrot's mouth is red, but the rest of him is some
other colour.
244 O handsome KŠa,R€dh€'s heart burns with love for You. You eternally stay in Her heart. On the
other hand, Your heart is always very cool and cheerful. My unloved friend R€dh€ is never allowed to
enter there even for a moment.
®r… Rudra
32
Dinantara-varta
Narration of Another Day's Pastimes
245 One time Lord KŠa offended R€dh€, and They quarrelled. Afterwards, KŠa disguised Himself as a
gopi, fell down at the feet of one of R€dh€'s gopi-friends, pacified Her, and by her arrangement was able to
enter R€dh€'s house. When R€dh€ was alone on Her bed, disguised KŠa approached Her bedside and
began to massage Her body. The touch of His hand reminded Her of KŠa. Still thinking KŠa to be a gopi,
she said to Him: "Ah! You must be very unhappy. KŠa must have forsaken You as He has Me." She
looked into KŠa's eyes. After that She slowly and very happily fell into His arms.
author unknown
246 R€dh€ became genuinely afraid of the possible intrusion of Her elders, and for this reason the bud
of Her feigned anger began to blossom. Her dear and intelligent gopi-friend cast a meaningful glance at
KŠa to apprise Him of the situation. He understood. He took His leave and went to the cottage of vines by
the Yamuna's shore, only to meet R€dh€ again in that more secluded place.
author unknown
247 Walking in the madhavi grove where there were many bumble-bees, intelligent Madhava played
very beautiful music on His flute, which was like a fishhook to catch the fishhook to catch the fish of the
gopis' hearts.
author unknown
Puspa-cchalena anvesayantim ®r…-R€dh€m prati kasyascid uktih

Words of a Certain Gopi to ®r…mati R€dh€rani,
Who was searching for Lord KŠa on the Pretext of Picking Flowers
248 This is a good path. Don't think there are obstacles here. I have seen this path with my own eyes. It
leads to the Yamuna's waters where there are splendid blue lotus flowers. On the shore is a tamala tree, and
in the grove nearby the male cuckoo of the Supreme Personality of Godhead enjoys pastimes.
Tatra yamuna-tire gataya ®r…-R€dh€ya saha hareh sankatha

Conversation Between R€dh€ and KŠa on the Yamuna's Shore
249 "Who are You?"

"I am a gopi-messenger sent by Madhava."
"What is His message?"
"He says: 'O beloved, please don't be angry with Me."
"That rascal has given His heart to another girl!"
"O friend, He never stopped worshipping You for a moment."
R€dh€ was pleased by the nectar of this conversation. Disguised as a gopi, KŠa brought Her to a
cottage in the forest grove, and then revealed His real form. May smiling Lord KŠa protect you all.
®r… Vasava
250 It is spring. This forest is very secluded. You are a young girl, and I am an amorous young boy. O
R€dh€, come to Me. If You hesitate for a moment, You will simply become the object of Your friends'
clever teasing jokes.
author unknown
33
Tatra ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam
251 "My Lord, You are mistaken. This forest is dense and dark. I am a young girl all alone. This place
is completely covered by the shade of these tamala trees. O handsome KŠa, please leave Me at once."
When KŠa heard R€dh€'s words, He at once embraced Her. May passionate Lord KŠa protect you
all.
author unknown
Svadhina-bhartrka
The Gopi Who Controls Her Lover
252 All glories to the gopa KŠa who as He was drawing pictures of dolphins on ®r…mati R€dh€rani's
waterpotlike breasts became so agitated He was unable to draw a single straight line.
author unknown
Kridanantaram ®r…-KŠasya svapnayitam

After Enjoying Transcendental Pastimes,
Lord KŠa Takes a Nap and Speaks in His Sleep
253 "O Laksmana, now that I am separated from Janaki, these rainclouds torture Me, and these cruel
breezes blowing from the kadamba flowers violently strike My heart." As R€dh€ heard sleeping KŠa's
description of His feelings of separation in a previous birth, She became frightened and filled with jealous
anger. May dre€ming Lord KŠa delight you all.
®r… Subhanka
Vamsi-cauryam
Theft of the Flute
254 Silencing Her anklets by placing them on Her arms as golden armlets, and carefully observing KŠa's
eyes for any sign of His becoming startled, smiling R€dh€ stole the flute from His lap.
®r… Daityari Pandita
Tam muralim prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Words to the Flute
255 O flute who is so dear to KŠa, when you grant Me your mercy I will also give you many
benedictions in return. I will bless you, saying, "May you become faultless. May your heart become filled
with the nectar from KŠa's lips. May you become very eloquent. May you become charmingly slender.
May you become the object of Lord KŠa's worship."
256 O flute, you have blessed Me by giving Me the emptiness in your heart, your lightness, the dryness
of your body, and your eloquence in constantly chanting the holy name of KŠa, the king of Vraja. Why do
you now not give to Me the nectar of KŠa's lips, which you drink, turn into song, and shamelessly use to
enchant the entire world and bring it under your control.
34
Sayam harer vrajagamanam
Lord Hari Returns to Vraja Village in the Evening
257 May Lord Kesava who, sweetly playing the flute, a peacock feather in His hair, blackened with dust,
decorated with a wilted forest-flower garland, tired, handsome, and a festival of happiness for the gopis'
eyes, returns with the surabhi cows at the day's end, grant auspiciousness to you all.
author unknown
Tatra kasyascid uktih

A Certain Gopi's Words Then
258 "O Kesava, my eyes are now filled with the dust raised by the cow's hooves and I cannot see
anything. I have stumbled and fallen to the ground. O Lord, are You not kind to the fallen? You are the
only shelter for all women distressed at heart." I pray Lord Hari, to whom a gopi spoke these words, will
protect you always.
author unknown
259 His flute tucked into His belt, one lotus hand on a surabhi cow's back and the other holding a stick,
lotus-eyed KŠa entered the Village of Vraja.
author unknown
Tatraiva ®r…-radhikayah saubhagyam

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Good Fortune
260 As KŠa walked on the path one gopi secretly worshipped Him with the playful movements of her
vine eyebrows, another with her sidelong glances, and another with the moonlight of her smiles . However,
it was on R€dh€'s face, which was filled with a graceful beauty that mocked the other gopis and broke their
pride, that His shy, amorous glances fell. All glories to those glances of KŠa, the enemy of Kamsa.
®r… Umapatidhara
261 May Gokulapati KŠa's lotus face, with neck tilted, earrings touching His shoulders, a splendid
peacock feather decorating His hair, bending vines of His eyebrows moving restlessly, a flute on His lips
making sweet music, and an amorous sidelong glance falling on R€dh€'s face, protect you all.
262 May R€dh€'s lover, KŠa, who, resting the flute on His cheek and shoulder, placing the flute's mouth
to His bimba-fruit lips and, gentle blowing, makes a very sweet sound, His necklaces slightly swaying as
He moves His arched fingers over the flute's holes, protect you.
®r… Nathoka
Go-dohanam
Milking the cows
263 Resting on half His feet, grasping the udder between His thumb and finger, spraying Himself with
two or three stray drops, and making a charming stream of milk pour into the pail balanced between His
arched knees, Damodara milks a surabhi cow.
®r… Sarana
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®r… KŠam prati candravali-sakhi-vakyam
Words of Candravali's Friend to Lord KŠa
264 O cheater, even as You are embracing Candravali, when You hear the tinkling of the jewelled belt
of some other girl, Your attention turns to her and the knot of Your arms around Candravali becomes
loosened. How can I tell her? My friend Candravali has been poisoned by Your eloquent words mixed
with honey and ghee, She can no longer see.
author unknown
®r… Govardhana-dharanam
Lifting Govardhana Hill
265 May KŠa on whom, as He playfully lifted tall Govardhana Hill with His lotus hand, Mother Yasoda
gazed with fear and pain, R€dh€ gazed with pleasure to see the transcendental qualities of Her lover, the
small naked gopa-boys happily gazed, thinking they were as strong as He and could also lift the hill if they
tried, and Maharaja Nanda gazed with simultaneous terror, delight and wonder, protect you all.
®r… Sohnoka
266 "O KŠa, for a long time You held up Govardhana Hill without any help. You must be very tired
now. Please sit down and rest. All of us will hold the hill in Your place." KŠa then shifted a small portion
of the hill's weight onto the raised arms of the cowherd men. When they felt the pressure of the hill, their
arms became bent and they began to scream. May KŠa, who smiled to see all this, protect you all.
®r… Sarana
267 "You must be exhausted by now. Let go of the hill and we will hold it for You." When He shifted a
little of the hill's weight, and the arms of the cowherd men began to become crushed, KŠa began to smile.
All glories to KŠa.
®r… Subandhu
268 "Please go far away from the path of KŠa's eyes. O slender girl, don't make Govardhana Hill fall
from His hand because He is absorbed in gazing on You." When KŠa heard the gopis' words to stop
R€dh€, He sighed and the hill began to slip from His hand. May those sighs of Lord KŠa protect you all.
®r… Subhanka
Nauka-lila
Boating Pastimes
269 "Take us to the other side of the Yamuna!" Repeatedly called by the gopis, KŠa pretended to nap by
His boat. All glories to doubly indolent Lord KŠa.
270 KŠa: My dear young girl, please step into My tari (boat, which will become tarau in the locative
case.)
R€dh€: What power do I have to climb trees?
(Here R€dh€ interprets tarau to be the locative of taru, which means tree).
KŠa: My dear, charming, bewildered girl, I do not mean tree, I mean tarani (boat).
R€dh€: Why would I want to go to the sun? (Here She interprets the word tarani to mean sun).
KŠa: All these words I have used mean nau (boat).
R€dh€: All these words are meant to bring Us together. (Here She interprets the word nau to mean
Us).
36
I worship unconquerable Lord KŠa, who happily smiled as ®r… R€dh€ defeated Him in this
playful verbal duel.
271 What You say is true. There are no waves on the Yamuna, and this is a new, sturdy boat. I am so
afraid because You, O Madhava, are the reckless captain of the boat.
272 The river is very deep, this is an old boat, and we are simply helpless girls. It is very dangerous for
us. Nevertheless, O Madhava, at the present moment You are the only boat-captain who can take us slender
girls across the Yamuna.
®r… Jagadananda Raya
273 KŠa suddenly stopped the boat in the middle of the Yamuna and demanded immediate payment of
the fare. He smiled as He gazed at the frightened face of the gopi, who had no money to give.
®r… Suryadasa
274 O Yadunandana, by Your order I have cast into the water these milk-products as well as My own
necklace. I have thrown My bodice far away. Still, the shore of the Yamuna has not come any closer.
author unknown
275 The boat is violently tossed by the wind. Filling with water, it is now sinking into the Yamuna.
Alas! Destiny has become my enemy. Even in this cal€mity lusty-hearted KŠa again and again puts His
had on me!
276 My hands are exhausted. They can no longer push the water out. All You do is speak joking words.
O KŠa, if I live through this, never again will I place my feet in Your boat.
®r… Manohara
277 O gopi-friends, all of you please bow down before your chosen deity and pray that either the
Yamuna River will not be deep as our knees, or we get a boat-captain other than KŠa.
278 The boat rocks to and fro. The river is deep. The reckless son of Maharaja Nanda is the captain. I
am a helpless girl. The sun is setting in the west, and the village of Vraja is still far away. O gopi-friend,
what will I do now?
author unknown
279 He pays no attention to My prayers. He does not hear My begging in a broken voce. He does not
consider My repeatedly bowing down before Him. O gopi-friend, what will I do now? In the middle of
this wave-filled river, the reckless son of Maharaja Nanda violently shakes the boat.
280 "The Yamuna is filled with huge waves, and the boat is filling with water. Still, KŠa is not afraid."
"O beautiful R€dh€, don't be so harsh. By Your mercy We will live through this. All You need do
is pay the boat-fare of a promise to enjoy with Me a festival of amorous pastimes in the cave of Govardhana
Hill."
37
281 O KŠa, O cheater hiding behind this heap of dried cow-dung, why do you uselessly beg me in this
way? Go away! (This is a foolish trick) You used to be very expert at tricking the gopis. You expertly
tricked them when You frightened them in an old boat. Where is that expertise now?
Note: One time Lord KŠa took the gopis for a ride in an old boat. When the boat began to rock
dangerously in a storm, KŠa extorted various amorous favours from the frightened gopis in return for their
rescue.
R€dh€ya saha harer vako-vakyam

Conversation Between KŠa and R€dh€
282 "Who taps on My door with one finger?"

"O crooked girl, it is Madhava."
"Madhava is a name of spring. Has springtime come knocking on My door?"
"Certainly not. It is the holder of the Sudarsana wheel."
"Potters hold wheels. Are You a potter?"
"I am not. I am the person who holds up the entire world."
"The forked-tongued serpent king Ananta holds up the world. Are You He?
"No. I am a person who crushes serpents."
"The bird-king Garuda crushes serpents. Are You he?
"No. I am Lord Hari."
"Hari is a name of the monkey-king Hanuman. Are You he?
May Lord KŠa, who holds the Sudarsana cakra, and who smiled to hear these clever words from
®r…mati R€dh€rani, protect you all.
author unknown
283 "Who is there in the darkness of night?"

"It is Kesava."
"Kesava means hair. Why should hair approach Me? You are awfully proud, hair."
"O beautiful girl, I am the grandson of Maharaja Surasena."
"Of what use is the worthless son of a virtuous grandfather?"
"O moon-faced girl, I am the holder of the Sudarsana wheel."
"Ah, You are a potter who spins a potter's wheel! Will You give Me a bowl, a pot, and a milk-
bucket?"
May Lord KŠa, who was embarrassed by these clever replies of the gopi R€dh€, protect you all.
®r… Cakrapani
284 One morning, when KŠa came to R€dh€, R€dh€ asked Him, "My dear Kesava, where is Your vasa
at present?" The sanskrit word "vasa: has three meanings: one meaning is residence, one meaning is
fragrance and another meaning is dress.
Actually R€dh€rani inquired from KŠa "Where is Your dress?" But KŠa took the meaning as
residence and He replied to R€dh€rani, "My dear captivated one, at the present moment My residence is in
Your beautiful eyes."
To this R€dh€rani replied, "My dear cunning boy, I did not ask You about Your residence, I
inquired about Your dress."
KŠa then took the meaning of "vasa" as fragrance and said, "My dear fortunate one, I have just
assumed this fragrance in order to be associated with Your body."
®r…mati R€dh€rani again inquired from KŠa, "Where did You pass Your night?" The exact
Sanskrit word used in this connection was "y€minyamusitah". "Y€minyam" means "at night" and usitah
means "pass". KŠa, however, divided the word "y€minyamusitah" into two separate words, namely
38
"y€minya" and "musitah". By dividing this word into two, it came out to mean that He was kidnapped by
Y€mini, or night. KŠa therefore replied to R€dh€rani, "My dear R€dh€rani, it is possible that night can
kidnap Me?" In this way He was answering all of the questions of R€dh€rani so cunningly that He
gladdened this dearest of the gopis.* May smiling Lord KŠa protect you all.
author unknown
285 "R€dh€, You have become kupita (angry)."

"Ku means earth, and pita means father. It is You who are father of the earth."
"And You are the mother of all universes."
"You are the actual mother of the universes. You are omniscient. No one is Your equal."
"O Goddess, Your skill in joking lover's quarrels is ananta (unlimited)."
"Nan means bowing down, ta means the state of being, and a means without. It is You whom
possess this quality of ananta (refusing to bow down)."
May Lord KŠa, who smiled as He then bowed down before the beautiful gopi R€dh€, grant
auspiciousness to you all.
®r… Harihara
Rasa
The Rasa-dance
286 On a wonderful night, in delightful Vnd€vana forest filled with the fragrance of jasmine flowers,
illuminated by beautiful moonlight, and made charming by the singing of the cuckoos and other birds,
KŠa's sweet, regal flute music, which stole away the gopis hearts and bodies, was splendidly manifest.
author unknown
287 Filled with the sweet nectar of KŠa's lips, the playful sound of the flute delighted the does, the doe-
eyed gopis, and the sages.
288 May KŠa, who thirsted after the honey of the gopis' lips, and whose playful, talkative flute made the
gopis tremble, protect you from all dangers.
®r… Madhava Cakravati
289 Mother, don't stop me! Let go of my hand! I am going to KŠa. Because KŠa's bold messenger, the
flute, calls me, I cannot stay here.
290 The top of His head kissed by a crown of peacock feathers, His garments the colour of gold, a
karnikara flower in His ear, His heart swept away by waves of amorous desire, the flute placed to His
expert-musician lips, and His eyes decorated with crooked sidelong glances, Lord KŠa, whose form is the
full development of all transcendental bliss, was worshipped by the slender-waisted gopis in the forest of
Vnd€vana.
®r… Jivadasa Vahinipati
®r…-KŠa-vakyam
®r… KŠa's words
291 All your garments became disarrayed as you ran here through the forest at night. I think you must
have been repeatedly attacked by some demon. Aha! What fear can remain as long as My arms, which
39
swiftly turn the demon's wives into widows, are present. O doe-eyed girls, all of you go home and enjoy
pastimes on the chest of your husbands. I will take care of this demon.
292 What is the overwhelming thirst that troubles your hearts in this pleasant, sacred forest of Vraja? O
pious girls, please return to your homes. Do not sin. Within My sight the path of religion will never be
broken.
Note: These ambiguous words may also be translated:
"What is the overwhelming thirst that troubles your hearts in this pleasant, sacred forest of Vraja?
O pious girls, please do not return to your homes. Stay here. Within My sight the path of religion is never
broken."
Vraja-devinam uttaram
The Reply of the Goddesses of Vraja
293 Why do You teach us the path of religion? Be kind. Teach Your bad-mouthed disciple, the flute.
Alas! Alas! Your bold flute robs our modesty and carries our hearts to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. Teach it not to call us here.
294 The gopis arms around His waist, the hairs on His body standing up in joy, and His eyes restlessly
moving, KŠa plays the flute. I bow down to offer my respects to ®r… KŠa, the only worshippable Lord
for the entire world.
295 With tears in Her eyes, angry R€dh€rani left the nectarean pastimes of the rasa dance and fled to the
Yamuna's shore. His bodily hairs standing up, KŠa followed Her footprints. He eventually caught up with
Her and obtained Her merciful glance. May Lord KŠa's successful appeal to Her bless you all.
®r… Bhatta Narayana
®r… KŠantardhane tasam prasnah

Questions of the Gopis During ®r… KŠa's Disappearance
296 O Tulasi, you are very beautiful. O jasmine vine, you are filled with splendid blossoms. O land-
growing lotus flower, you are very lovely with all these bumble-bees. O friends, please tell me at once: In
which cave did Nandanandana, the king of cheaters, go?
297 "Did You see where Madhava went? He took one vraja-girl and left. O friend, we are all cheated."
"If you want to find KŠa, then divide into groups of two and go everywhere searching for Him."
Saying these words, KŠa, disguised as a gopi, at once took R€dh€'s hand and went with Her deep
into the forest. May Lord KŠa protect you all.
author unknown
®r… R€dh€-sakhi-vakyam
The Words of ®r…mati R€dh€rani's Friend
298 O prince of Vraja, who can say whether You are at fault or not at fault for abandoning this girl?
Who can say whether Your actions are auspicious or inauspicious? Still, O tilaka-marking of Your f€mily,
40
my cruel heart remembers how this girl entered the dangerous forest for Your sake, without caring for Her
own self.
®r… R€macandra dasa
299 Displaying His own splendour, Lord KŠa appeared in the middle of the rasa-dance circle. He was
fragrant with musk, and the flute was placed to the moon of His lips. The dancing gopis gazed at Him and
He glanced at them with pleasure. May Lord KŠa, who moved His feet in the rasa-dance, protect you.
Tatra khecaranam uktih

Words of the Demigods Observing the Rasa Dance From Their Airplanes in the Sky.
300 Devaki bore a precious fruit sought by the liberated sages, Yasoda protected that fruit, and now the
gopis taste that fruit to their hearts' content.
®r… Daksinatya
301 The young gopis must have performed many austerities and pious deeds in their previous births so
that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has now become a blue garment covering their waterpotlike
breasts.
Jala-keli
Water Pastimes
302 As a young cakravaka couple separates and then meets again, KŠa, His palms trembling in His
water-pastimes, delights in covering and uncovering R€dh€'s face. May Lord KŠa protect the entire world.
author unknown
Note: The male and female cakravaka birds associate during the day, but separate again at night.
®r… R€dh€-sakhim prati candravali-sakhyah sasuya-vakyam

Jealous Words from Candravali's Friend to R€dh€rani's Friend
303 My friend, please do not be too puffed up because KŠa has decorated Your forehead with His own
hand. It may be that KŠa is yet attracted by some other beautiful girl. I see that the decoration on Your
forehead is very nicely made, and so it appears that KŠa was not too disturbed in painting it. Otherwise, He
could not have painted such exact lines!*
®r… Damodara
®r… R€dh€-sakhyah sakuta-vakyam

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Friend's Words, Which Contain a Hidden Meaning
304 When the priyara trees bloom everywhere in Gokula, their flowers are like a host of moods decked
in yellow garments.
Note: The second meaning hidden in these ambiguous words is:
"When the priyara trees bloom everywhere in Gokula, then Candravali becomes dear to Lord KŠa,
who wears yellow garments."
The second meaning implies that Candravali is not beautiful by herself, but only is beautiful when
surrounded by beautiful things, such as priyara flowers.
Gandharvam prati sakhi-vakyam

41
A Gopi-friend's Words to ®r…mati R€dh€rani
305 We are conquered by Your friendship. For this reason we will tell You something. O beautiful one,
if You go again to the Yamuna, don't go to the kadamba forest. In that place is a great splendid darkness.
When that darkness even lightly touches the corner of a young girls lotus eyes, she is never again able to
see her husband's house.
®r… Govinda Bhatta
306 The whole day has been dark with clouds. And now, at sunset, You are eager to go to the Yamuna's
shore for flowers. Go ahead. What is my distress? When I see the deep thorn-scratches on Your breast I
become afraid some crooked man will attack You.
®r… Karnapura
307 O pious girl, if in Your heart You wish to go to the Yamuna, then please follow my advice and don't
go to the asoka grove, or if You go there, don't go alone and listen to the sound of KŠa's flute in that
secluded place.
®r… Tairabhukta Kavi
308 O restless girl, don't delay. Fill Your jar and go home while KŠa's flute does not recite it's mantra
charm.
309 Hiding behind a kadamba tree to the Yamuna's shore, and suddenly beginning to play His pastime-
flute, Lord Mukunda made the gopi dipping her jar in the water turn her face.
author unknown
310 My gopi-friends have already gone home and I am left behind carrying this big, full jar. O son of
Nanda, if You touch Me now that I am all alone, I will immediately give up this life in Your presence.
Tam prati kasyascid uktih

One Gopi's Words to Her
311 "The moving forest-flower garland must wave wiped the sandalwood paste from Your breasts and
the movements of the shark-shaped earrings must have destroyed the pictures of sharks drawn on Your
cheeks."
"O rascal gopi, this slender body was washed of these things by the water's playful waves."
"You speak the truth. Even now You are jubilantly submerged in the nectar waters of the Yamuna."
Note: In this verse a gopi-friend accuses ®r…mati R€dh€rani of enjoying pastimes with KŠa. The
gopi says that the sandalwood paste on R€dh€rani's breasts must have been wiped away by Lord KŠa's
flower garland when He embraced Her, and the picture of the sharks drawn on R€dh€rani's cheeks must
have become destroyed by KŠa's shark-shaped earrings when He kissed Her. R€dh€rani then defends
Herself, saying that the sandalwood paste and shark-pictures were washed away when She bathed in the
Yamuna.
Candravalim prati tasya vakyam

This Gopi's Words to Candravali
42
312 Why are you eagerly going into the deep, dark forest to pick flowers for goddess Katyayani? Look!
O beautiful-necked girl, your gopa-husband is angrily staring at the scratches on your breasts.
Tad-bhartaram prati sakhi-vakyam

That Gopi Friend's Words to Candravali's Husband
313 O handsome one, why do you suspiciously stare at my dear friend's back, now yellow from the
priyangu flower pollen blown by the Yamuna breeze?
Note: Candravali's back is yellow because she enjoyed pastimes with Lord KŠa on a bed of flowers.
Nitya-lila
Eternal Pastimes
314 Lord Mukunda's eternal pastimes are manifested even now in Vnd€vana. Because these pastimes
are very confidential, they are not clearly described by they who know of them.
Note: The authorship of texts 314-316 is not given in the original.
315 Lord Siva hinted to his wife Parvati that Lord Madhava eternally enjoys pastimes with the lotus-
faced gopis in Vnd€vana. Because these jewel-pastimes are a very great secret, Vy€sa's son Sukadeva
Gosv€mi, who knows the actual truth, described Lord KŠa's entrance into Mathura City.
316 In the Padma Purana Lord Siva privately said to Parvati: "Lord KŠa, the killer of Kamsa, eternally
enjoys pastimes in Vnd€vana with the cows, gopas and gopis.
Prakata-lilanusarena bhavini harer mathura-prasthane R€dh€-sakhi-vakyam

Words of ®r…mati R€dh€rani's Gopi Friend
As In His Manifest Pastimes KŠa is About To Leave For Mathura City
317 O Kamadeva, you have given this lowly girl's body friendship with the new moon Tell me, after
KŠa leaves at sunrise, where will you shoot your arrows/
®r… Rudra
Note: Anxious because of KŠa's imminent departure, R€dh€ has become thin and pale as the new
moon.
®r… R€dh€-vakyam
Words of ®r…mati R€dh€rani
318 The bracelets repeatedly slide from My wrists. My tears fall without interruption. Peacefulness will
not sit in My heart for even a moment. In His heart My beloved has decided to go. Everyone has come.
Now He is about to go. O My life, how can My dear friend be abandoned?
®r… Amaru
Harer mathura-pravese tatrayanam autsukyam

The Eagerness of the Citizens When Lord KŠa Entered Mathura
319 A blind girl, on the path of whose eyes even the shadow of a form never entered, decorated the city
of Mathura. When she heard that Mukunda had entered the city, she at once took a bandhukara flower
offering in her hand, and went to meet him.
43
®r… Vanivilasa
Tatra pura-strinam vakyam

Words of the Women of Mathura When Lord KŠa Entered the City
320 Fie on our large beautiful eyes reaching to our ears! By continually shedding tears they interrupt
our vision of the young man the girls of Vraja saw.
321 The same intensely blissful, limitless, eternal, unborn Supreme Brahman, whom the yogis worship
in a trance of meditation in order to directly see for a moment, was completely conquered by the fortunate
young girls of Vraja. Hundreds of times they happily spoke with Him, kissed Him and embraced Him.
®r… Vahinipati
322 O dear friend, the lotus flowers in the lake remain with petals unopened, and the flowers in the
forest refuse to blossom. From this I can understand that the handsome son of Maharaja Nanda has not yet
returned to Vraja Village.
®r… Kumara
®r… R€dh€ya vilapah

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Lament
323 When KŠa was about to leave, and I heard Him say, "Now I will go." I remained peaceful. As He
was leaving He continually fixed His eyes on Me, even from a distance, and I responded by ignoring Him
and turning from Him. When I returned to My empty house, the breath was still present in My body. O
friends, look! I, who love only My own life, am pretending to cry.
®r… Rudra
324 Three hours have passed. Six hours have passed. Nine hours have passed. The day has passed.
Alas! alas! What will I do? I do not see KŠa's face!
®r… Sankara
325 O friend, the moon who pretends to be a young gopa will never again be seen dancing and playing
ball with a flower on the Yamuna's shore.
®r… Sasthi dasa
326 O My friend, girls who can see their lover in dreams are very fortunate. As for Me, since KŠa left,
My enemy sleep has left Me for good.
®r… Dhanya
327 It is the same springtime. It is the same forest. It is the same tree. Everything is the same as it was
then, but, alas! Alas! That person whose delicate body is splendid as a fresh raincloud, that person who is
the first incarnation of Kamadeva, is nowhere to be seen.
328 May Lord Govinda, because of separation from You, I consider even a moment a great millennium.
Tears flow from My eyes like torrents of rain, and I see the entire world as void.*
44
329 My trembling heart is torn, but will not break two. My wretched body is stunned, but will not lose
consciousness. A fire burns in My body, but does not turn it to ash. Fate wounds My heart, but will not
destroy My life.
®r… Bhavabhuti
330 O fate, go move the raincloud! Please the cataka birds! Make the peacocks cry "keka"! Make the
ketaki flowers bloom! when a lover separated from his beloved faints and loses consciousness, that drives
away the pain. O merciless fate, why do you again afflict him with the disease of consciousness?
®r… Bhavabhuti
331 I have already seen the sky gray with ketaki pollen. I have seen the river's shore filled with new
banana flowers. I have already tolerated the breeze blowing from the kadamba flowers. O friends, wipe
your tears. Give up your anxiety. Why are you unnecessarily pained? I am made of thunderbolts, I will be
able to withstand the ferocious attack of all these things.
®r… Rudra
332 This is the same river. This is the same moonlight. This is the same shore of the Yamuna. This is
the same forest. These are the same jasmine-scented breezes. O love more dear to Me than life, You have
now become unattainable for Me.
®r… Hari Bhatta
333 O Yadunatha, when will My friends come running from all directions with full-moon faces to tell
Me that You have come?
334 O my Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see You again? Because
of not seeing You, my heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?*

335 If I must remain alive in this way, eternally hanging by a single thread of hope, then why did the
supremely benign creator Brahma not create a deadly poison (to save Me)?
Raghunatha dasa
336 When the mango trees begin to bloom, this fickle life becomes eager to depart. The Lord of My life
is not here. That alone is the intense pain that afflicts Me.
®r… Ranga
337 O friend, I don't suffer because I am separated from KŠa, the moon of the gopas. I suffer because
KŠa is now in Kamsa's city, which is filled with cruel demons.
338 "O Sisira season, please spread the fragrance of these jasmine flowers. O breeze please blow nicely.
O moon, please illuminate the directions. O Kamadeva, now you may arouse desire." Those days have
passed. Friends, please give up talking of Him. Now My heart wishes to do something else in this place.
®r… Rudra
339 O friend, if Yadupati KŠa will not come here, let Him not come. If, out of separation from Him,
My life-breath goes away, let it go. The fact that I will never again see the moonlight face of KŠa is a great
thunderbolt striking My heart.
®r… Hari Bhatta
45
340 Let this body die. Let it's elements merge with the other elements. I bow My head before the creator
Brahma and beg from Him the benediction that the water of My body may enter the waters of KŠa's lake,
Syama-kunda, the fire of My body may enter KŠa's mirror, the ether of My body may enter His courtyard,
the earth in My body may be placed before His path, and the air in My body may join the breeze created by
His palm-leaf fan.
®r… Sanmasika
341 Let KŠa embrace this maidservant, who has fallen at His lotus feet. let Him trample Me or break
My heart by never being visible to Me. He is a debauchee, after all, and can do whatever He likes, but He
is still no one other than the worshipable Lord of My heart.*
Mathurayam yasodam smrtva ®r…-KŠa-vakyam

Remembering Mother Yasoda, ®r… KŠa spoke the Following Words in Mathura City
342 Now who will take half-chewed betelnuts from his own mouth and place them in Mine? Now who
will subdue Me with sweet words when I depart from the path of righteousness? Now who will call:
"Come! Come!" wave his arm, and place Me on his lap? Now who will re-tie My peacock feather when it
falls because of My pastimes?
®r… R€dh€-smrtya harer vakyam

Remembering ®r…mati R€dh€rani, Lord KŠa Spoke the Following Words
343 O moon-faced girl, because the reactions of My past deeds have become mature, I walk on a solitary
forest path, or away from the path, and I flood the universes with My lamentations filled with loud moans
and ceaselessly flowing tears for You.
Uddhavam prati harer vakyam

Lord KŠa's Words to Uddhava
344 Among the vrajavasis the gopis are the best, and their best quality is their sweet words. Among the
gopis there is one who is the best, and Her best quality is Her crooked sidelong glance.
author unknown
Uddhavena R€dh€yam hareh sandesah

Lord KŠa's Message to ®r…mati R€dh€rani Delivered by Uddhava
345 On the day We met Your love suddenly appeared without the slightest cause. Your love is not
diminished by My offenses, nor increased by My prayers. It is full of nectar and it destroys the sufferings
of the three worlds. How can I easily described Your intense love for Me?
author unknown
346 That possibility of Our conversing is very distant. So be it! The possibility of My embracing Your
transcendental body is also distant. So be it! However, again and again I bow down before You and beg:
Please always count Me among Your friends, and please write a line to Me.
®r… Kesava Bhattacarya
46
Vnd€vanam gacchata uddhavasya vakyam
Uddhava's Words on Arriving in Vnd€vana
347 This is the Yamuna, very beautiful with many blue lotus petals, and the favourite place of restless,
warbling jalaranku birds blinded with happiness. On this shore Lord KŠa's days were mostly spent in
passionate and blissful amorous pastimes with the gopis.
®r… Dasaratha
348 In the past the Yamuna would every day become muddied with the black musk anointing the vraja-
gopis bodies and breasts. Now that KŠa has left the water is twice as muddy, but this time with the mascara
washed away by the gopis constant tears.
®r… Sarvananda
349 This is the shore of the Yamuna. In this place, when the cows heard the glories of KŠa, the grass
fell from their mouths. When the gopis in different places heard the sweet sounds of KŠa's flute, their
beautiful eyes opened wide and they trembled continually.
®r… Motaka
350 I offer my respectful obeisances to the gopis. When KŠa, the husband of the goddess of fortune,
remembers their transcendental qualities, His warm signs wilt the vaijayanti garland on His chest.
author unknown
Vraja-devi-kulam praty uddhava-vakyam

Uddhava's Words to the Goddesses of Vraja
351 O gopis separated from Lord KŠa, even the great yogis are not able to travel your path. They
meditate on the transcendental form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but the Supreme Person
meditates on you. This is your rare good fortune.
author unknown
Uddhave drste sakhim prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Words to Her Gopi-friend on Seeing Uddhava
352 O friend, what good thing will I tell you? You used to approach My rivals, speak My name, and
affirm that I was the queen of Lord KŠa's life. Now when I see this messenger I become afraid he will tell
Me that KŠa's love for Me has broken. I refuse to hear his message. I will not ask him any question.
®r… R€dh€m praty uddhava-vakyam

Uddhava's Statement to ®r…mati R€dh€rani
353 O beautiful-thighed R€dh€rani, don't stain Your moonlike face with these tears from Your eyes.
Lord Hari, who is an ocean of mercy, will be merciful to You again.
®r… Sasthivara dasa
Uddhavam prati R€dh€-sakhi-vakyam

The Words of ®r…mati R€dh€rani's Gopi-friend to Uddhava
354 She rests a cheek on Her hand and bathes her face in continual tears. since the auspicious day of
KŠa's departure, how what method could this lotus-eyed girl employ to obtain even a moment's sleep?
47
®r… Harihara
355 There is no sandalwood incense in the homes of the vaisyas. There are no flower in any forest.
There are no lotuses in the waters of the rivers and streams. Because of the torture of separation from KŠa,
no one is peaceful.
®r… Harihara
356 O breeze, you are the life-breath of all the universes. By picking up the sound of KŠa's flute and
revealing the path to Him, you formerly became the leader of the beautiful-eyebrowed girls of Vraja. O
breeze from the gardens of Mathura, by touching the transcendental body of Lord KŠa you have become
very pure and cool. At this moment you are our only protector.
48
R€dh€-sakhya eva KŠa-sandesah
A Letter to KŠa from R€dh€'s Gopi-friend
357 The gentle breeze blowing from the place where You stay makes the hairs of Her body stand up.
She satisfies Her eyes by showing them the beautiful picture of Your transcendental form. Her ears are
sprinkled with the nectar of Your name. Her words filled with songs in the fifth raga, day and night this
slender girl stays by the window overlooking the path where You might return.
®r… Trivikama
358 Flames of amorous yearnings burn in Her body. The mark of rapt meditation rests in Her eyes. Her
life rests in Her throat. Her cheek rests for a long time on Her flower-bud hand. Her braid rests on her
shoulder. Sandalwood paste rests on Her breasts. Silence rests in Her words. These things rest firmly in
their places, but Her heart and mind cannot rest anywhere without You.
®r… Ksemendra
359 When She sees that You, Her beloved, the splendid moon that dispels the darkness in the courtyard
of the sky, have gone far away, Her sighs become like lotus buds, Her face becomes like a lotus flower with
petals closed, Her love for You becomes like a churning ocean of milk with great waves, and Her eyes
become like two melting candrakanta jewels.
®r… Bhima Bhatta
360 O cheater KŠa, You eternally stay in Your lover R€dh€'s heart, which burns with flames of
separation from You. Still, R€dh€ cannot stay for even a moment in Your heart, which is as cool as ice and
snow.
®r… Sankara
361 O Mukunda, how will I describe the sufferings of this doe-eyed girl? Her sighs constantly fan the
flames of Her suffering. When a beautiful lotus petal is placed on Her burning breast it first become dried,
then shrivelled, then turns to powder, and then becomes a blazing dust-fire.
®r… Santikara
362 Because the vine of Her body may violently tremble, we do not fan Her even with a single lotus
petal. Because She may become overwhelmed we do not sprinkle Her body with sandalwood powder and
water. Because She may become crushed by the great burden, we generally do not place even a flower on
Her breast. How may the disease of this slender girl's heart become cured?
®r… Ananda
363 R€dh€ is again and again attacked by the sharpened arrows of cupid. If She may live in the
protection of Your thunderbolt-heart, that will be very good for Her.
author unknown
364 "They are blooming."

"Cut them with fingernails."
"It is blowing."
"Stop it with the edge of your sari."
"They are now entering the pastime-forest."
"Frighten them away with the tinkling of your bracelets."
O Handsome KŠa, afflicted by separation from You. R€dh€'s friends spoke about the blooming
flowers, pleasant southern breeze, and cooing cuckoos in this way.
®r… Sambhu
49
365 One evening one of the gopis fainted, and then a second, and gradually all the gopis fainted. O
handsome KŠa, one gopi tried to write a love letter to You, but she became overwhelmed and was unable to
complete the first word "svasti" (greetings).
®r… Sacipati
366 When She meditated on You in order to draw Your picture, Kamadeva drew his bow. When Her
two fingers moved to grasp the paintbrush, Kamadeva placed an arrow on the bowstring. When She began
to draw, Kamadeva shot an arrow. She was severely wounded. O Kesava, She fainted and for a long time
She was motionless as a painted picture.
®r… Bana
367 Constantly meditating on You in Her heart, and imagining that You had appeared before Her, She
made Her arms like a bracelet around You. Her hairs standing up, She passionately embraced Her own
body for a long time. When I saw Her, I thought Her tears were a monsoon rain in disguise.
author unknown
368 In the presence of some friends She sheds continual tears, to other friends She narrates Her grief, to
other friends, She humbly begs mercy, and because of Her superiors and elderly relatives She is anxious.
These are the ways She suffers in separation from You. Please become peaceful. She will become happy
today or tomorrow. She is only really tortured by the constant sighing.
Asya eva sa-pranayersyam jalpitam

Her Words Mixed With Love and Anger
369 The dark complexioned Supreme Personality of Godhead is expert at capturing the hearts of others
with the sweet handsomeness of His face. What hope is left for a person who desires friendship with Him?
®r… Jagannatha Sena
Vraja-devinam sotprasah sandesah

A Joking Message From the Goddesses of Vraja
370 What is the use of talking with You in a solitary place? What is the use of gazing at You with
unblinking eyes? O Lord, O son of Nanda, it is the love they bear for You in their hearts that is the only
real friend of the beautiful girls in Gokula.
author unknown
Yathartha-sandesah
A Very Appropriate Letter
371 When they heard the sweet sounds of Your flute they were not shy of their superiors. Why should
the gopis become shy now that they are separated from You?
®r… Sasthi dasa
372 O traveller to Mathura, at Lord KŠa's door please speak this message from the gopis: "The fire of
Kaliya's poison again burns in the Yamuna's water."
®r… Vira Sarasvati
50
Dvaravati-sthasya harer virahah
Lord KŠa's Feelings of Separation in Dvaraka
373 Remembering the gently flowing Yamuna River, the area around Govardhana Hill, dark with blue
lotuses, and the valleys fragrant with many kadamba flowers, and also remembering sweetly beautiful
R€dh€ during Their first meeting, He became filled with pain. May Lord Damodara, the king of Dvaraka,
delight the three worlds.
®r… Sarana
374 He does not wish the pastime lotus flower. The moonlight does not please Him. He does not try to
playfully talk with His doe-eyed queens. He spends the evenings sitting down, pale, wan, and languid,
without desiring to enjoy anything. A vraja-gopi staying in His heart, Lord Hari is stunned.
®r… Sarana
375 Even though tightly embraced by Rukmini-devi in a jewelled palace in Dvaraka by the sea, Lord
KŠa, remembering the fragrance of ®r…mati R€dh€rani's transcendental pastimes in the vanira grove by
the lovely shore of the Yamuna, suddenly fainted.
®r… Umapatidhara
376 "Now I am passionately embracing Pali in the water. Why do You speak angry words? O R€dh€,
You pine for Me in vain!" Hearing these crooked words from KŠa as He slept on the bed, Rukmini stopped
embracing His neck. May Lord KŠa protect you all.
®r… Umapatidhara
Vnd€vanadhisvari-viraha-gitam
The Queen of Vnd€vana's Words of Separation
377 When KŠa left for Dvaraka, R€dh€ wrapped Herself in His garments and sat down by a charming
vine in a grove on the Yamuna's shore. Filled with longing, She shed tears and sang in a shrill, choked up
voice. When the fish in the water heard Her they became anxious, thinking the singing the warbling of a
predator crane or pelican.
®r… Aparajita
Vraja-devinam sandesah
A Letter From the Goddesses of Vraja
378 O traveller, if you go to Dvaraka, tell this to the son of Devaki: "now that You have rejected them,
the gopis are overwhelmed by Kamadeva's mantra-charm, and their eyes are blinded by the kadamba pollen
of Your pastimes. In spite of all this, the shore of the Yamuna still does not enter Your heart.
379 "Why do Govardhana's caves, the Yamuna's shore, Your favourite vata tree named Bhandira, the
kadamba tree at Kaliya lake, Your friends, and Vraja village, not enter Your heart, even to be criticised, O
debauchee of Dvaraka." These words of the vraja-gopis were an unbearable javelin wounding Lord Hari's
heart. May that javelin protect you all.
®r… Nila
380 The girls of Vraja wrote Lord KŠa a letter, that said: "(O KŠa) why is it that the constantly shining
charming moonlight and the constant breezes on the shore of the Yamuna are not able to cool the burning
51
sufferings we feel?" When He heard these words within His palace, KŠa began to sigh. Those sighs broke
into pieces the pride of His beautiful queens.
®r… Pancatantrakrt
Sudamanam vipram prati dvarakesvara-vakyam

Words of Dvaraka's King to Sudamaa Vipra
381 Please don't go. Friend, it is not auspicious for you to speak these unloving words. Stay here. You
can be completely independent. You can do whatever you like. You can remain completely aloof. O
friend Sudama, I tell you until I see you again I will always remember you with reverence and love.
®r… Hari
Sva-grhadikam drstva tasya vacanam

Sudama's Words on Seeing His Home, Possessions and F€mily
382 Before my home was a small shack with slanted walls, and now it is a heavenly palace. Before I
had only one old cow, and now there are many elephants moving like a great cloud. Before there was only
the occasional sound of the grinding mortar, and now there is the sweet singing of many women. This is
very wonderful. How has this brahmana obtained a place like this?
author unknown
Kuruksetre ®r…-Vnd€vanadhisvari-cestitam
The Queen of Vnd€vana's Activities at Kuruksetra
383 Jubilant, fortunate R€dh€ closed Her right eye, and with Her left eye, which was like a glistening
red lotus flower pushed by a fish, gazed at Lord KŠa.
®r… Hara
384 Her eyes flooded with tears and could no longer see. Her arms were overwhelmed with trembling
and could not wrap themselves around His neck. Her choked voice could speak no words, and Her heart
was restless. After such a long time, the meeting with Her lover was just like Her separation from Him.
®r… Subhra
Rahasy anunayantam KŠam prati R€dh€-vakyam

Lord KŠa Tries to Console ®r…mati R€dh€rani With Sweet Words
in a Solitary Place, and She Replies in the Following Way
385 Why have You fallen disconsolate at My feet? The husband is always independent. He may stay
for some time, and then He may also go away. What fault is there on Your part? It is I who am the sinner,
for I remained alive even when separated from You. The wife should always consider her husband to be
her very life and soul. It is I who should apologise to You.
author unknown
Tatraiva sakhim prati ®r…-R€dh€-vacanam

®r…mati R€dh€rani's Words to a Gopi-friend at Kuruksetra
386 That very personality who stole away my heart during my youth is now again my master. These are
the same moonlight nights of the month of Caitra. The same fragrance of malati flowers is there, and the
same sweet breezes are blowing from the kadamba forest. In our intimate relationship, I am also the same
52
lover, yet still my mind is not happy here. I am eager to go back to that place on the bank of the Reva
under the Vetasi tree. That is my desire.* author unknown
387 My dear friend, now I have met My very old and dear friend KŠa on this field of Kuruksetra. I am
the same R€dh€rani, and now We are meeting together. It is very pleasant, but still I would like to go to
the bank of the Yamuna beneath the trees of the forest there. I wish to hear the vibration of His sweet flute
playing the fifth note within that forest of Vnd€vana.*
Samaptau mangalacaranam
Auspicious Conclusion
388 "O beautiful girl, reject Siva. Reject Indra, Varuna, and Brhaspati. O lotus-eyed girl, worship the
transcendental Personality of Godhead, and reject all the others."
May Lord Hari, who overheard Dhanvantari as he was instructing Laksmi-devi to select the Lord as
her husband, protect you all.
author unknown
389 To KŠa, the crown of the Yadu dynasty, the Lord who enjoys transcendental pastimes in Vnd€vana,
and the boat for crossing the ocean of repeated birth and death, I offer my respectful obeisances.
®r… Avilamba Sarasvati
390 May Lord KŠa's arms, which are decorated with armlets glistening because of striking the splendid
summit of Mount Mandara, which eclipse the beauty of the forepart of Airavata Elephant's trunk, which
break the decoration on the cheeks of the great demon's wives by turning them into widows, and which
remove the sins of the age of Kali, protect you all.
®r… Yogesvara
391 Jayadeva Gosv€mi, Bilvamangala Thakura, and other famous authors have written many books.
Without referring to their verses, the work of other, less-famous authors has been assembled in this book.
392 I pray that the young tamala kalpa-vrksa tree expert at enjoying splendid amorous pastimes and
worshipped by the pious girls of Gokula will grant my desire.
53

®rÿ Padyavali: A Verse Anthology

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®RŸLA RUPA GOSVÃMŸ'S

®r… KŠasya mahima

35 O KŠa, O Balar€ma, O Mukunda, O Vamana, O Vasudeva, O master of the universe, O Matsya, O

36 O Gopalaka (cowherd boy), O Krpa-jala-nidhi (ocean of mercy), O Sindhukanya-pati (husband of

37 O ®r… Narayana, O Pundarika-nayana (lotus-eyed one), O ®r… R€ma, O Sita-pati (husband of

38 O Bhandiresa (master of Bhandiravana), O Sikhanda-mandana (decorated with peacock feathers), O

74 I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a

114 "Who are you?"

125 Mathura is in my ears. Mathura is in my eyes. Mathura is in my voice. Mathura is in my heart.

Saisave 'pi tarunyam

151 "There was once a king named R€ma."

Gopibhih saha lila

Tasu KŠasya bhavah

R€dh€m prati sakhi-prasnah

®r…-R€dh€m prati sakhi-narmasvasah

®r…-R€dh€m prati ®r…-KŠanuraga-kathanam

®r…-R€dh€m prati sakhi-vakyam

Kridanantaram janatinam sakhinam narmoktih

®r…-R€dh€ya saha dinantara-kelih atra sakhi-vakyam

Punar anyedyur abhisarika tatra sakhi-vakyam

Pariksana-karinim sakhim prati ®r… R€dh€-vakyam

Khandanapta-nirvedayas tasya vakyam

Puanh sayam ayati madhave sakhi-siksa

NiskR€mati krsne sakhi-vakyam

Dutim prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam

Kalahantaritam tam prati daksina-sakhi-vakyam

Tam prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakhyam

®r… KŠam prati ®r…-R€dh€-sakhi-vakyam

Puspa-cchalena anvesayantim ®r…-R€dh€m prati kasyascid uktih

Tatra yamuna-tire gataya ®r…-R€dh€ya saha hareh sankatha

249 "Who are You?"

Kridanantaram ®r…-KŠasya svapnayitam

Tam muralim prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam

Tatra kasyascid uktih

Tatraiva ®r…-radhikayah saubhagyam

R€dh€ya saha harer vako-vakyam

282 "Who taps on My door with one finger?"

283 "Who is there in the darkness of night?"

285 "R€dh€, You have become kupita (angry)."

®r… KŠantardhane tasam prasnah

Tatra khecaranam uktih

®r… R€dh€-sakhim prati candravali-sakhyah sasuya-vakyam

®r… R€dh€-sakhyah sakuta-vakyam

Gandharvam prati sakhi-vakyam

Tam prati kasyascid uktih

Candravalim prati tasya vakyam

Tad-bhartaram prati sakhi-vakyam

Prakata-lilanusarena bhavini harer mathura-prasthane R€dh€-sakhi-vakyam

Harer mathura-pravese tatrayanam autsukyam

Tatra pura-strinam vakyam

®r… R€dh€ya vilapah

®r… Madhavendra Puri

Mathurayam yasodam smrtva ®r…-KŠa-vakyam

®r… R€dh€-smrtya harer vakyam

Uddhavam prati harer vakyam

Uddhavena R€dh€yam hareh sandesah

Vraja-devi-kulam praty uddhava-vakyam

Uddhave drste sakhim prati ®r…-R€dh€-vakyam