Krsnahnika Kaumudi

Compendium of Krsna’s Daily Pastimes

by
Srila Kavi-karnapura

Translated by
HH Bhānu Swāmī
Readers interested in the subject matter of this book
are invited by the publishers to correspond at the
following address:

His Holiness Bhānu Swāmī

ISKCON
Hare Krishna Land(off ECR),
Bhaktivedanta Swami Road,
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Chennai- 600 119.

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Text copyright © 2015 Bhanu Swami

All Rights Reserved.
 This book is dedicated to

HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA

SWAMI ŚRILA PRABHUPADA
Founder-Ācārya of International Society for Krishna
Consciousness
Who inspired the whole world to take up the path of
Bhakti
Table of Contents

Chapter One - Dawn Pastimes

Chapter Two - Early Morning Pastimes

Chapter Three - Morning and Forenoon Pastimes

Chapter Four - Noon Pastimes

Chapter Five - Afternoon and Evening Pastimes

Chapter Six - Night and Late Night Pastimes

 Chapter One
Dawn Pastimes
1. At the end of night, only a few constellations were visible in the
sky, spreading a pleasant atmosphere all around. At this time, taking
the orders of Vrnda Devi, the sarika and parrots with soft sounds
began to wake Radha and Krsna from their slumber.

2. First, leaving their nests, all the sarikas began to awaken Radha
with their repeated sweet words. Then all the parrots, capable of
giving deep bliss, devoid of all illusion and sometimes embraced by
Krsna out of love, began to awaken Krsna with indescribable words.

3. The sarikas said, “O moon-faced maiden! Why do you remain

sleeping at the end of night without worry, snuggled on the lap of the
son of Vraja’s master? Now, do not remain in this grove decorated
with swarms of maddened bees. Are you not thinking of the mean
bee-like gossip of the elders?

4. “You should not remain sleeping in this grove, forgetful of all family
reputation and respect. O Radha! Quickly give up that sleep which
impedes enjoyment. Rise from bed. See—night has ended.
Prepare to return to your house. Don’t increase the anxiety of your
friends by staying here any longer.

5. “O playful maiden! Look! The east has become deep red, imitating
the color of your lotus feet. The lady cakravakas, separated at night
from their lovers, now are gradually meeting with them again.

6. “And the moon, desiring with great greed to attain the beauty of
your face, desiring to give up her own body as useless, is now
ascending the towering Sunset Mountain in the west in order to jump
off. Who will be able to see the moon today?
7. “O maiden with beautiful teeth! The bees, which were preoccupied
within the night blooming water lilies are now moving towards clumps
of day blooming lotuses. The cause of withering and rejoicing is time
alone.

8. “O beautiful faced girl! Your dear companions with lotus-like

smiles, who brought you to the deep, dark groves in the spotless
evening, have now emerged from their groves and are coming to
meet you.

9.” O beautiful faced girl! Give up sleep and open your eyes. Gaze
upon the faces of your companions endowed with complexions like
lightening. From the pastimes of the night, your ornaments have
fallen, your hair is disarrayed, and your body and clothing have been
torn. Your friends have gathered to remedy this situation.

10. “The stars have vanished from the sky. Your necklaces have
fallen from your body. And the blossoms have fallen from the
sephalika tree. What was splendid in the night in these three items
has now disappeared as dawn approaches. But in spite of that, your
body still radiates the most exquisite beauty.

11. “The constellations in the sky have scattered like the pearls of
your broken necklace, and only a few remain in the sky. And see
there--the chaste Arundhati, having noticed your long sleep and
becoming filled with alarm, has situated herself in the constellation of
the seven sages.

12. “O moon-faced girl! The beautiful doe named Rangini, raised by

your own hands, is approaching you now. Be merciful and glance
upon her, so that her love for you will increase.

13. “O beloved gopi of Krsna! The mind of the doe are very
innocent. Thinking your lotus feet to be fresh sprouting leaves and
desiring to taste them, the doe is quickly running towards you, and
only when your friends drive her away with their lotus hands does
she retreat.
14. “This doe takes interest only in tasting your saliva and drinking
the water from your lotus feet, but because you do not glance upon
her, she is filled with pain and remains glancing towards your moon-
like face, hoping for your glance.

15. “O Radha! Look! Playful Hari is measuring the width of the love-
drenched eyes of the doe, and comparing them to yours. Removing
all doubts, he is praising the doe’s eyes, comparing them to a
garland of spotless pearls.”

16. In this way, the love-intoxicated sarika birds recited pleasurable

verses in order to awaken Sri Radhika. When they stopped speaking
for a moment, the parrots, filled with bliss, began to fly towards the
grove and offer respects to Sri Krsna.

17. Enthusiastic to give joy to Krsna, the parrots began to utter many
sweet sounds, pleasing to the ear and mind through sound and
meaning, in order awaken Krsna.

18. These parrots were deeply immersed in the taste of love. They
were learned in arranging attractive words, were sweet voiced, and
were unreserved in talks of love. They were all expert in judging
proper time and circumstance. Those who are experts do not
become bewildered at any time.

19. “Glory to the ocean of good qualities! Glory to the dearest friend
of Radha! Revealer of the lotus of Vraja! Jeweled mountain of all
arts! O lord, though night has ended, what are you thinking, lying on
the bed in the grove? Seeing it is time to arise, why do you still
desire to lie in bed?

20. “Young bees within the flower filled forest wake up at the end of
night and play in the rows of lotuses. Who would not be charmed by
them?
21. “Some faces are sad and some are smiling. Some lovers
separate and some lovers unite. Does not time, creating agitation or
happiness, cause extreme difference between the night and day
lotuses?

22. “You are the knower of time and the destroyer of all suffering.
You are the friend of the universe and the ocean of all good qualities.
Though the wide bed in the bower is the topmost pleasure, you must
give up it for your own benefit. Please rise up from the bed.

23. “O beautiful one! Mother Yasoda has stopped worrying, knowing

that you are safely sleeping in your bed. But now, she will come
quickly to wake you up, seeing the late hour. Her motherly affection
is acting as her advisor in caring for you.

24. “This peacock, who has proper respect for time, has woken up,
separated from his mate, and is wailing “Ke-ka.” He is flying towards
you to wake you up. Can an intelligent person neglect the time for
cleaning his body?

25. “Because of your influence and bodily glow, the peacock does
not lose his tail even in the autumn season, but rather its luster
increases. Can anyone surrendered to your lotus feet be distressed
at any time or place?

26. “This attractive, eager peacock with its blue throat and its tail
continually spread out, as if studded with glittering jewels, brings joy
to you and your happy friends every day.

27. “All glories to you, fortunate one! Obeisances to you! Listen!

This rooster who has been watching you for a long time is anxiously
clucking. Knowing it is time for you to rise, his body has swollen with
bliss. Those knowledgeable of time do not become bewildered at this
time.”

28. Hearing the murmur of the parrot and sarika birds, sweet to the
ears, first Radha woke up, interrupting her sleep. Then Krsna, tired
of sleep, also awoke.

29. When they woke up simultaneously, their eyes opened. They

glanced away from each other with a frown. By depriving themselves
of each other’s sight, they both became despondent.

30. Due to the strong embrace of their arms, their bodies appeared
to become one. Would the pastimes of union and conflict of the
previous night again arise under the influence of Cupid?

31. Cupid, realizing the rareness of this union, with the help of the
jeweled needles of their ecstatic goose bumps and the long colorful
thread of their joy, sewed together their effulgent bodies.

32. When they both yawned at once, they revealed the glitter of their
teeth, which filled the atmosphere with indescribable peace. It
appeared that the effulgence from their teeth was performing aroti to
their two forms with the assistance of their mouths.

33. When the tight embrace of their arms produced heat, it

transformed their love into tears, which began to flow from their
eyes. They were tears of lamentation, filled with passion, foreboding
the approaching pain of separation.

34. As if intoxicated, they raised themselves from the bed and

conscientiously began tying their clothing. Not able to bear
separation, they became afflicted. Not able to leave that place, they
remained in the forest grove.

35. All glory to the eyes of Radha, who has just risen from sleep! Her
eyes, lazily rolling about and dry from slumber, were like two bees
wandering slowly in a lotus overflowing with honey.

36. The attractive eyes of Madhava, filled with the enjoyment of

sleep, shone with brightness and wandered about along with his
eyelids. They are like two lotuses being approached by bees.
37. When the east became red like shining gunja seeds, the couple,
hiding their creeper-like bodies which glowed with victory in the
battle of love, left the grove with eyes lowered in bashfulness.

38.39 With kumkuma and sindura marks smeared everywhere in the

bedroom, it appears that, in their attempt to destroy the enemy called
separation, blood had dropped everywhere. The bright flower
garlands lay scattered about like broken bows and the crushed
necklaces appeared like broken bow strings. The mad elephant
called Cupid had left marks of musk and kajjala here and there. The
sakhis, who had just arrived, inspected the room with amusement.

40. Placing their heart within the other’s familiar heart out of deep,
ever-increasing love, tolerating momentary separation of their
bodies, with soft steps they returned to their homes.

41. Unconsciously, in confusion, they were wearing each other’s

clothes. She was wearing his yellow cloth and he was wearing her
blue cloth. In a drowsy mood, placing their arms on each other’s
shoulders, they returned home without fear.

42. While on the path, fearing elders who would criticize them, they
cast unsteady glances here and there. Wise in the battle of love and
endowed with the highest qualities, Radha and Krsna in great bliss
walked on the path.

43. They were not seen on the path, in the bower, or in the forest.
Producing great joy for the eyes of their followers, the two lovers,
dear to the world, while playing on the path, shone brightly.

44. After the sacrifice of love, the couple performed an avabhrtha

bath and became purified, though they are actually the essence of
everything, successful in all conditions. They returned home and
slept the rest of the night.

45. Like bodies of warriors engaging with arrows in fierce combat,

whose wounds were healed by medicine, the marks of love
disappeared through the union of the two. Their bodies, injured
through their loving affairs when they came together, became
unmarked again, by the very nature of the power of their love.
 Chapter Two
Early Morning Pastimes
1. Mother Yasoda, filled with ever increasing motherly affection,
entered into Krsna’s bejeweled bedroom in the early morning to
wake him up.

2. “O dear son! Please get up, for the night has ended. See how the
sun, just about to rise, is so pleasing to the eyes. In the early
morning, your young friends, skillful at service, are entering your
bedroom.

3. “O child! This parrot raised by your hand, sitting blissfully in his

golden cage, full of love for you, is trying to wake you up by uttering
‘Jaya! Jaya’

4. “You are tired because of sleeping too much! Give up your sleep
and get up!” Saying this Mother Yasoda began to massage his limbs
with her soft hands and embraced him with her outspread arms.

5. Hearing the sweet, affectionate words of his mother, and

understanding them, he considered for a moment and then playfully
went through the motions of waking up by stretching his limbs and
yawning.

6. Mother Yasoda, after giving instructions to expert young girls and

boys from among all the steady, devoted and skillful servants,
entered her own quarters.

7. As Krsna roused himself from sleep, his eyes, half way between
waking and sleep, opening and closing, took on a special splendor,
as if the goddess of sleep, in pain of separation, was reluctant to
give up his eyes.
8. Then beautiful young girls began to perform aratrika to his face,
holding jeweled lamps in their hands.

9-10. The boys with turbaned heads and the young girls with limbs
fragrant with lotus pollen, all with colorful dress—black, white, green,
pink, and yellow—ornamented with all good qualities, endowed with
ever-youthful forms and with swaying necklaces, all relishing the
highest bliss, became absorbed in various services.

11. Rising from bed, Krsna sat gracefully upon a beautiful footstool
that was illuminated by four different jewels. With cheerful hearts the
male and female servants began to serve him.

12. As the male servants poured a stream of camphor scented water

into his cupped hands, Krsna slowly washes the lotus whorl of his
mouth.

13. After drying his face and hands with a soft, fine piece of cloth, he
smiled gently and took a soft tooth brush twig from his servants.

14. While he gently brushed his teeth, which reflected the radiance
of his jeweled ring, his earrings swung back and forth to fill
everyone’s eyes with happiness.

15. Krsna held the two ends of a jeweled, golden tongue scraper
with his thumbs and forefingers and cleansed his tongue, reddened
from chewing tambula. A sparkling diamond bracelet caressed his
wrist.

16. Again he rinsed his mouth with water and again wiped his mouth
at a leisurely pace. Then looking in the mirror with restless eyes, he
inspected his cleansed face.

17. One young girl with an innocent smile took a ruby comb in her
lotus bud hand and began to comb Krsna’s hair while her bangles
jingled.
18. One artistic servant took off Krsna’s night clothing and dressed
Krsna in new cloth. He sprinkled water on his feet, dried his feet
thoroughly, and tied a turban on his head.

19. Having finished his morning purification and eager to milk the
cows, desiring to give pleasure to his friends and let his friends give
pleasure to him, Krsna entered the large cow shed.

20. After finishing milking the cows, upon common agreement, he

entered the jeweled hall for daily wrestling practice along with his
like-minded friends.

21. Krsna engaged in wrestling with each of his fearless friends, who
were of the same age. They all showed courage, strength, anger and
pride as they approached each other from front, back and side.

22. After resting a while, the fortunate group of friends, like the root
of the tree of all great qualities, entered the massage parlor along
with their devoted, attractive, smiling servants.

23. The servants, skillful at telling tales and composing verses and
graceful in their techniques of massage, applied the most fragrant oil
and began to massage Krsna.

24. the most fortunate, praiseworthy servants massaged all of

Krsna’s auspicious limbs from head to foot, not too softly and not too
strongly, for a long time.

25. In order to remove the extra oil from his body, they then applied
finely powered camphor and kumkuma.

26. Rinsing his hair with yogurt mixed with amalaki, the young girl
servants then bathed lotus eyed Krsna with water whose
temperature was suitable to the season and scented with camphor,
using various crystal and gold vessels.
27. Some servants cleaned his hair by squeezing it with small pieces
of cloth and others rubbed his tender limbs using their soft hands.
Others sprinkled water from golden pots. In doing this, they all
attained splendor and beauty.
28. Some boys poured water over his head using conch shells.
When bathing was completed, they gently rubbed his body with
pieces of cloth.

29. First they rubbed his body with soft, wet cloth. Then they rubbed
his body from top to body in every crevice, using fine, dry white cloth.

30. In the same way, some boys dried his hair using wet and then
dry cloth. Some skillful servants changed the damp cloth around his
waist for a dry one. It seemed that the dry cloth was rudely pushing
the wet cloth out of the way.

31. One boy quickly brought two pieces of golden silk cloth. Another
boy then offered the cloth to Krsna and Krsna exchanged the old
cloth for new cloth.

32. After washing his lotus feet and seating him in glittering, gem-
studded chair, one young servant boy began to arrange his hair from
behind.

33. Spreading out the strands of hair and rubbing them again and
again and then combing the hair with a jeweled comb, the servant
next tied the hair in two parts using a piece of cloth. In this way the
hair began to shine.

34. The blackness of Krsna’s hair and the whiteness of the cloth
complemented each other. On viewing his hair, it seemed that a
black snake was casting off his old skin. Who would not be attracted
to this hair style?

35. Though the curls of his hair were by nature quite strong, because
of the bathing, they became loose. One servant arranged his locks of
hair and scented them, and then on his forehead placed a mark in
the shape of the moon using sandalwood and kumkuma.

36. Then Krsna, who was by nature most attractive, put on the great
Kaustubha jewel. The natural luster of this faultless jewel surpassed
sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and rubies.

37. One servant draped incomparably attractive strands of pearls

around Krsna’s neck. One strand rested on Krsna’s broad chest, one
reached to his navel and another reached to his knees.

38. Another servant attached his makara earrings whose splendor

increased the luster of his cheeks. Krsna had previously worn these
earrings, but during his bathing festival they had become wet. They
were removed, dried and again worn.

39. One servant adorned Krsna with an attractive jeweled pendant

strung upon a silken thread. He bedecked him with armlets inlaid
with emeralds and other stones and puts bracelets on his wrists.

40. Another servant placed a splendid, faultless ruby on his ring

finger. The reddish hue of the gem transformed itself by contacting
the bluish luster of Krsna’s skin. He puts a seal ring on his forefinger.
41. A servant wraps a brilliant yellow, diamond-studded belt around
Krsna’s waist and placed a string of bells adorned with sparkling
rubies around his hips.

42. Another servant placed diamond anklets on his ankles, which

reflected the light from his toe nails, and, with great desire, offered a
jewel mirror to his moon-like face.

43. At this time one servant, on the order of Nanda, entered the
room and announced, “O Krsna, your father has ordered that millions
of cows should be offered to the brahmanas.”

44. Obeying his father’s order, Krsna bound up his hair, put on his
upper cloth, purified himself with acamana, and then in meditation
offered cows to the brahmanas.

45. Because her numerous, delicious cooked items were not ready
yet, Mother Yasoda, unable to tolerate the time before the cooking
was complete, sent other items for her son to eat.

46. After eating butter mixed with camphor, yogurt, milk and cream,
the beautiful-faced Krsna washed his mouth and placing his arms on
the shoulders of his friends, while chewing tambula.

47. When night had ended, the friends of Radha, eager to wake her
up, emerged from their houses and gathered together, waiting to
perform their services to Radha.

48. One friend brought a diamond studded seat, another brought a

dainty foot cushion, while another brought a vessel for washing her
face and another brought utensils for cleaning her teeth.

49. Getting up from her bed, Radha sat in a golden chair. Her eyes
were still rolling with drowsiness. She placed her feet on the cushion
and her dear associates came and greeted her.

50. Her friends began to pour water from a spouted pot into her
hands. She sipped this water and washed her mouth. But the water
became more fragrant because of the fragrance of her mouth. By
the touch of her lotus hand, the water turned red.

51. The water was scented with camphor. The friends, expert at the
art of play, surrounded Radha on all sides as she took water in her
hands and rinsed her mouth.

52. Wiping her mouth with a fine white cloth, Radha cleaned her
attractive teeth with a stick and cleaned her tambula stained tongue
with a tongue cleaner.

53. Again she rinsed her mouth with clear water and, with radiant
teeth, she sat on a jeweled seat while one companion approached
with utensils for dressing her hair.

54. Lalita removed from her body the marks left from Cupid’s battle
with a piece of fine cloth. She then removed Radha’s sweet smelling
night clothes and gives her a garment for her oil massage.

55. Another sakhi removed the veil from her head and loosened her
shining black hair. The bangles on her arms jingled together while
she affectionately arranged Radha’s tresses with a jeweled comb.

56. After washing Radha’s feet, one expert sakhi held up a mirror
before her lotus face. She then lovingly rubbed Radha’s body with
fragrant, reddish oil.

57. The sakhi became slightly bashful whenever she saw a part of
Radha’s gorgeous form after removing some cloth. After rubbing
that part of her body, she quickly covered it again.

58. After her body was covered in oil, her affectionate, pure-hearted
sakhis massaged her from head to toe. Then they anointed her with
a pleasant powder composed of camphor mixed with musk, saffron
and sandalwood.

59. One sakhi scrubbed her hair with pure, scented amalaki juice
and then rinsed it with water from spouted pots with spontaneous
affection.

60. Standing on her two sides, Lalita and Visakha, holding diamond
pots in their hands, slowly bathed Radha with suitable, scented
water mixed with camphor.

61. One companion wrapped her hair in a cloth and squeezed it to

extract the excess water. She unbound it again, separated the hair
out with her fingers, and then bound up her hair again in cloth.

62. Using a soft cloth, one fortunate gopi rubbed Radha’s moon-like
face, while others dried her neck and ears. Other sakhis dried
Radha’s full breasts, beautiful back and lovely, graceful arms.

63. One gopi wrapped a dry towel around Radha’s hips and removed
her wet undergarment. After completely drying Radha’s hips by
gently rubbing the towel with her hands, the gopi then replaced it
with a charming red petticoat.

64. A talented sakhi dried all the water from Radhika’s splendid
breasts and then carefully tied a fine gem studded silken bodice that
was expertly sewn by Radha’s artistic girlfriends.

65. Her delicate, ruffled red petticoat was as effulgent as the sun.
Over that, Radha wore a golden threaded dress that kissed the tips
of the toes of her lotus feet.

66. A gopi tied a beautiful silk cloth which was adorned with two
pendants made of sparkling pearls and diamonds around Radha’s
waist. Drawn together in different places, the shape of this belt
resembled that of a lotus flower.

67. Seating Radha on a gem studded seat covered with a soft cloth,
they washed her feet and offered her a variety of cloth and
ornaments.

68. Again her attendants fixed her hair, using jeweled combs and
their fingers, and scented it with krsna-aguru incense.

69. As her locks had become limp from the water, they were again
tightly curled up. The sakhis applied a mark on her forehead with
musk. Using a drop of sindhura they fixed a brilliant sapphire on the
part of her hair.

70. One sakhi bound in her hair the Syamantaka jewel, which was
nourished by the gleam from hair ornaments made of malati flowers
and tied her two long braids with bright red silk thread, glittering with
diamonds.
71. One sakhi placed a gleaming network of tiny pearls on her
forehead. Another sakhi put diamond earrings on her ears.

72. In the middle portion of the ears she placed circular shaped ear
ornaments, whose upper portion had holes to hold small gold pins.
These ornaments glittered through the reflections caused by
precious stones.

73. One sakhi anointed her eyes with kajjala. This gave the
appearance of two arrows of Cupid. She placed a pearl in Radha’s
right nostril. Reflecting the black from her eyes and the red from her
lips, the pearl appeared half black and half red.

74. One sakhi placed around her neck a string of gleaming pearls
imbedded in blue silk, fashioned in a circular shape, which gave
pleasure to all eyes.

75. One sakhi placed jeweled arm bands on her upper arms and
jewel bracelets on her wrists. She also tied a silk thread around her
wrist, which glowed from the illumination of the bracelets and jewels.

76. One sakhi placed rings on the little finger of her right hand and
on four fingers of her left hand. Another sakhi placed necklaces with
a center jewel of great radiance over her upper chest.

77. Another sakhi placed ornaments over her belly and another
places diamond belts below that. Some one placed jeweled rings on
her toes and anklets on her ankles.

78. One sakhi placed jeweled ankle bells on her two feet and
another brought a diamond mirror and held it in front of her so she
could inspect the artistry of the various sakhis.

79. Having decorated every part of her auspicious body and judging
that it was delightful to the vision, they covered her with a shawl. The
beauty of that form seemed to uproot the beauty of all the three
worlds.
80. Decorated in this way, Radha stood in the midst of the sakhis.
At that time, one follower, noteworthy for being entrusted with the
most excellent services, appeared and revealed to Radha enjoyable
topics in the most gentle of language.

81. “O auspicious Radha! Krsna’s mother has sent me with great

affection, so please listen carefully to what I have to say. She says,
‘May you become famous by cooking at my house a variety of dishes
with your expert cooking friends for the pleasure of Krsna!

82. “All these maidens have similar birth, similar humility, similar
talent for cooking food, and are completely dedicated to Krsna.
Whether old or young, all the women are devoted to the queen of
Vraja.

83. “Therefore I say that you should go there and do the cooking.”
Hearing these words, the pink footed Radha, embodiment of all
Laksmis, became completely blissful and proceeded slowly to
Nanda’s house.

84. Coming to the house, the beautiful and humble Radha greeted
Yasoda Devi. Yasoda held her right hand in her own and brought
her to the head cook, Rohini. Radha paid her respects to Rohini.

85. The young, respectable Radha entered the kitchen along with
Yasoda and Rohini, and, smiling at the attendants and offering them
respect with words, inspected the unlimited ingredients with
satisfaction.

87.87. Seeing all the ingredients—pumpkin, potato, yam, gourd,

eggplant, radish, patola, beans, green banana, ripe banana, banana
flower, banana stem and innumerable types of greens, she glanced
towards her friends, hinting at the various vegetable preparations
they would make.
88. Knowing which vegetables would be most suitable for which
preparations, the kitchen servants had cut already cut them in the
proper way.

89. Many of the women were engaged in grinding up cardamom,

clove, pepper, ginger, nutmeg, nutmeg leaf, cumin, black cumin,
coconut, mustard seed, rice, beans, and turmeric.

90. These ground ingredients were placed in golden bowls covered

with earthen lids and all the bowls were kept on a spread out cloth.
The flawless Radha began to cook.

91. Then beautiful Radha, with suitable ornaments and dress,

washing her hands and feet, and eager to begin cooking, placed
herself before the huge stoves along with Rohini.

92. With a hint from Rohini, she placed wood on the fire and then
placed the attractive cooking pots made of copper, brass and silver
on the blazing stoves.

93. The fire blazed without spitting and without smoke and it was
controlled by adding the correct amount of water. Some servants
added salt to the preparations in the proper amounts with their
hands.

94. The leaves were cooked in mustard oil to give the correct variety
of taste. Two kinds of preparation were made by mixing ground
mustard, ginger and coconut with jackfruit seeds.
95. Many excellent preparations were made using pumpkin, potato,
kachu, and radish. One preparation used mustard, ginger and bitter
leaves fried in mustard oil.

96. Small pieces of eggplant were cooked with mung dhal patties,
ground ginger, and pieces of coconut fried in mustard oil, to produce
a tasty dish.
97. Small pieces of eggplant, yam, kakarola, banana flower, mana-
kachu, patola and white pumpkin were dried, skewered and deep
fried.

98. Eggplant, green banana, coconut, chick peas and mung dhal
patties were mixed and pepper and sugar added to produce two
different dishes in huge quantities, one spicy and the other sweet.

99. A soup with excellent aroma was prepared from beans mixed
with coconut and prthu root, mixed with lots of ghee, hing, ginger and
raw sugar.

100. Finely ground coconut was mixed with sugar syrup, milk and
mung dhal to make another dish, and cardamom, clove, pepper, hing
and ginger were mixed to make mung soup.

101. Another soup was made using skinned, whole mung beans,
boiled and mixed with milk, and spiced with cardamom, clove,
pepper, hing and sugar.

102. Radha, the most expert cook, prepared a fourth soup in large
quantity from husked beans and chopped radish with lots of ghee,
hing and pepper.

103. She selected the hearts of the best bananas and chopped the
flowers finely, discarding the fibers. Cooking them with milk, hing
and pepper, she prepared a dish called marica.

104. Chopping up arbi and radish finely, she prepared another dish
and skinning unripe jack fruit, she cooked it with dhal patties, hing,
pepper and other spices.

105. Slicing bottle gourd in long, fine strips, she boiled it in water and
milk while stirring, till it thickened. Adding sugar, pepper, cumin, hing
and other spices, she produced another delicious dish.
106. Taking ripe pumpkin and chopping it finely, frying it in mustard
oil, spicing it with ginger, hing, and anise and mixing it with thickened
buttermilk, she made a sour yogurt dish.

107. She cut radish and puru into circles and cooked it in yogurt and
black sugar. Mixed with tamarind, this produced another sour
preparation.

108. Chickpea flour, yogurt, turmeric, and citron juice were mixed
and formed into soft, attractive balls called kanjika-bati.

109. Green mango, mixed with mustard seeds fried in ghee,

produced another sour preparation. Ripe mango mixed with water,
sugar and milk produced a sweet and sour preparation.
110. Roasted sesame mixed with dried mango produced another
sour preparation and toasted sesame with cinnamon made another
dish. Green and ripe mangos were mixed with sweetened milk and
hing to produce more sour dishes.

111. In this way Radha cooked innumerable preparations with

enticing aromas and placed them in jeweled and golden trays for the
pleasure of Krsna, Balarama, Nanda and Yasoda.

112. Sorting out the preparations and covering them with gold and
jewel lids, she, while being fanned by helpers, began making sweets
and cakes, happily engaging the sakhis in various jobs.

113. Cakes were prepared from coconut, rice, roasted sesame and
milk. Warm filtered water was poured over these and then they were
left covered. Then condensed milk was added. These were called
“citra.”

114. Cream mixed with pepper, camphor and raw sugar was formed
into huge balls called sara- dugdha-kupi. Using mung dhal and other
ingredients various pistakas were made.
115. Jilavika, mathahari, puru, pupa, gaja, nadi and sarasvati were
made. The talented sakhis also made kharcura, dadimaka, sarkara-
pala-mukta, and ladduka.

116. They made laddu from condensed and curdled milk, manohara,
hamsakeli, sobharika, daibada, ghola-bada, attakeli, and veni (wheat
noodles cooked in milk).

117. Very quickly they made the best candrakanti, lalita, amrtapuli
and other sweets. Taking all the ingredients, Radha and her friends
made these excellent sweets.

118. Lalita and the other sakhis prepared yogurt, butter, butter milk,
milk, sarabhaji, srikhanda, and other edibles, and many excellent
drinks.
 Chapter Three
Morning and Forenoon Pastimes
1-2. In the dining hall decorated with cloth, the various vegetable
preparations contained in jeweled bowls were lined up at the front,
on gem inlaid tables. On the outside were arranged delicious sweets
in bowls, and outside that were placed various milk products in
golden bowls. Arranging the preparations in a half circle to create
various designs, the companions of Radha generated an astonishing
atmosphere. They placed a huge pile of aromatic white rice soaked
in ghee on a golden plate in the middle.

3. On one plate on the right side they placed ghee, slices of lemon,
pickles, ginger, mango, mustard sauce and other condiments, and
next to that they placed many jugs of water scented with camphor.

4. When Yasoda saw the expertise of Radha in cooking, and the

wonderful designs created by the arrangement of the sakhis, she
sent the nurse to bring Krsna and Balarama. Being called by the
nurse, Krsna and Balarama came quickly with great eagerness.

The breakfast

5. Krsna, dressed in yellow cloth, paid respects to his mother, and

under her direction had some young girls wash his feet and offer
water for rinsing his mouth. This gave ever increasing to Yasoda.
When he seated himself in front of the preparations, he was
completely astonished.

6. Krsna, along with his brahmana and cowherd friends and

Balarama, received water in his lotus hands. That water held by
Krsna became red from the effulgence of his hand. After the mothers
gave blessings with “May this meal become nectar!” they began to
eat.
7. Mother Yasoda and Rohini arranged to serve the food in proper
order and Krsna ate according to that order. Whatever he began
tasting he could not stop eating. And though he wanted eat all of
each preparation and had the ability to do so, out of fear of the
onlookers and criticism of being a glutton, he tasted only a little of
each preparation.

8. Along with the cowherds including Balarama, who were praising

the expertise of the cooking, Krsna, saying silently in his mind
“Delicious, delicious!” began by eating a little payasa (sweet milk
rice). There were many preparations in huge quantities and Krsna
wanted to eat them all.

9. In order to please Yasoda and attract the cook Radha, Krsna,

with great satisfaction, ate all the excellent cooking, starting with the
spinach. He made his companions laugh with his sweet, humorous
words, and saying “Eat, eat, don’t leave anything,” he gave deep
pleasure to each one of them.

10. Taking a little rice, he ate each vegetable preparations with it, but
his greed for each item could not be satisfied. While praising each of
his favorite cakes and milk sweets, he ate them all and was satisfied.

11. Though Mother Yasoda and Rohini said, “Eat more, eat more,”
he gave a show of being full, though internally he could never be
satisfied. Washing his lotus feet, hands and mouth, and then wiping
them, he took tambula and spices and then lay down on a soft bed
suitable for the gods.

12. While Krsna fell into incomparably happy sleep, Visakha and
others, on the cue from Radha, put Krsna’s remnants in another
vessel and distributed the remaining food to the young boy and girl
servants.

13. Then the sakhis thought, “How can Radha take food, when
Nanda, Yasoda and their friends have not taken?” They thus retired
to Radha’s resting place and remained standing, desiring to
massage Radha’s feet.

14. Seeing the intention of the sakhis, Yasoda did not call Radha to
the dining hall. She revealed her intention by saying, “Radha can go
to the resting room now and I will call her later here.” Then Radha,
long with the sakhis, quickly proceeded to her room in order to see
Krsna depart to the forest.

Forenoon Lila
Going to the forest

15. His friends with beautiful form, such as Devaprastha, Varuthapa,

Amsu, Subala, and Sridama, and strong friends of the same age,
such as Visala, Vrsabhanu, Stoka-krsna and Arjuna, all with similar
minds, gathered in Nanda’s courtyard, waiting to go with Krsna into
the forest.

16. They all looked healthy, having bathed, scrubbed their bodies,
and taken their meal. They all wore peacock feathers and sikhas,
and held flutes, sticks and ropes for tying the calves. They were
ornamented with gunja berries, colored clay, flowers and fruits, and
had bells on their ankles. They quickly gathered and said, “O Krsna,
wake up! All glories to you. We are going to the forest.”

17. Hearing his friends approach, Krsna rose up from bed, rubbed
his lotus eyes, discarded his sleeping clothes and dressed suitably
for playing in the forest and herding the calves.

18. On his top knot was a string of gunja berries topped with a
peacock feather, in his ears were sapphire earrings with bunches of
punnaga flowers, and on his chest was a pearl necklace with a gunja
necklace. In this way, Krsna, dressed in yellow cloth, looked
splendidly attired for going to the forest.

19. By the order of Nanda and Yasoda, the cowherd boys accepted
more ornaments and clothing, and then followed after Krsna in a jolly
mood. According to their liking, they also took boxes of tambula and
jeweled jugs.

20. In front of the king of the cowherds, Krsna had the sons of the
servants gather the cows and, after milking, herded the calves to a
separate area. With ears pointed up and restless eyes, the cows
mooed with affection, fixed their eyes on Krsna, and began to gather
at the edge of Vraja.

21-22. The birds flying in the sky worshipped Krsna by showering

heaps of fragrant flowers. The women of Vraja worshipped him from
their rooms with their lotus eyes. The infants on the roads
worshipped him by shouting “Jaya, jaya!” in soft, sweet voices. The
elders who gathered in their doorways worshipped him by offering
blessings. Nanda and Yasoda, out of parental affection, not able to
bear separation, followed Krsna while constantly sniffing his head,
and, coming in front, they embrace him over and over. Then Krsna
addressed them with sweet words. “You should now return from this
point.” Bidding farewell, along with his friends he approached the
cows.

23. The multitude of cows, shining like the effulgence of the moon
on Siva’s head, appeared like Svetadvipa, just for enacting the
pastimes of cow herding. The consort of Laksmi would be
performing his pastimes in Svetadvipa, but this Svetadvipa was
moving in front of Krsna!

24. These cows could produce an ocean of milk and were more
attractive than the Milk Ocean. Even Laksmi, who arose from the
Milk Ocean, would be surprised by this herd of cows. These cows
extinguished the fame of all the kama-dhenus. What more can be
said? How can these cows, the Vedas incarnate, whose milk was
drunk by Krsna, be described?

25. When the cows saw Krsna approaching with his friends, they
began forming rows without orders from anyone and began to
move. They filled the directions with their blissful mooing, creating a
festival of delight for the ears.

26. The cowherd boys such as Sridama and Subala ran on both
sides of Krsna and in front and behind, saying, “I will touch Krsna
first.” Because of the ornaments topped by peacock feathers on
their heads and the decorations of gunja and jewels, all the
directions began to glitter.

27. With the pleasing sound of flutes, horns and leaves, the sweet,
blissful mooing of the cows, like the rumbling of thunder, and the
echoes of both, it seemed that the devatas had lost their self-control
and were shouting “Jaya, jaya!” to glorify the procession of Krsna.

28. The cows, trotting in front, turned their heads to see Krsna, who
was walking slowly behind, while their udders dropped a constant
flow of milk. When they reached the edge of Vrndavana, they stood
there, as if expressing the inner desires of Krsna.

Herding the cows in Vrndavana

29. Seeing that the cows had stopped and understanding their
mood, the most merciful and playful Krsna, bestower of love, went
before them and along with Balarama and the cowherds, led the
cows to a stretch of land covered with succulent, attractive, green
grass.

30. Because new spouts were coming out at every moment, the
amount of grass was inexhaustible. Herding the cows to this wide
plot of land covered with emerald green grass, Krsna then glanced at
the cows and entered the forest, the playground of Cupid.

31. Taking support of the famous kadamba tree’s trunk, standing in a

pose with three bends, and leaning on his stick, Krsna smiled
sweetly and affectionately. Dispersing in all directions the notes of
his flute kissed by his red lips, he made the cows gather in front.
32. Wherever Krsna directed his glance, that became attractive to
his mind. The herd of cows, like an insurmountable moat of the Milk
Ocean whose waves were agitated by the winds, intensified the
beauty of Vrndavana,

33. Wherever the cows went and ate grass, those places became
filled immediately with newly sprouted grass. And as soon as the
cows ate that grass, they became completely satisfied. Whatever
grass they walked on was the ground of Krsna’s pastimes.

34. The cows were not bothered by horse flies or mosquitoes. The
shaking of their tails was only for increasing the splendor of the
scene. Their ears always longed for the sound of Krsna’s flute, their
eyes longed to see his lotus face, their minds desired his form, and
their voices desired to call out to him.

35. Some fortunate cows, filled with affection, quenched their

longing, not by looking at him, but by approaching him. The bulls,
overjoyed by Krsna’s glance, could not leave his presence.
Nourished by the touch of Krsna’s hands, they were full of bliss.
Being very dear to him, they obeyed his orders.

36. The young cowherds spread out, following behind the cows.
Some approached Krsna and began to sing his glories. Whether
close or far, all the cowherds and cows received the same affection
from Krsna and held similar affection for him.

37. As soon as they heard the flute, mute entities became vocal and
vocal entities became silent. The waves of the water froze their
movement and immobile objects became active. Hard objects
melted. The flute made all objects attain opposite qualities. In this
way the world reacted when Krsna raised the flute to his lips.

38. All the trees had their leaves standing on end. The birds’ wings,
soaked in tears, were trembling. The animals’ jaws became
paralyzed, stopping them from chewing. The mountains were
covered with perspiration. The Yamuna River stopped flowing. Who
can understand the nature of these objects?

39. All had intense longing to see Krsna. All were filled with the
deepest love of his infinite pastimes. From Brahma to the animals
and plants, all had the most intense attraction for Krsna. From
Laksmi to the uncivilized women, all the females had unfathomable
and uncontrollable love for Krsna.

The sweetness of his feet

40. What to speak of conscious beings, how could the earth describe
the greatness of his two lotus feet, which distribute his sweetness,
and cause the jeweled ground to melt upon their touch? No living
being, at any time, in any way, can cause the destruction of the
sweetness of his feet, marked clearly with the signs of flag, lotus,
barley corn and other auspicious items.

41. Who can describe the fragrance of his lotus feet when he placed
them upon the breast of the earth? Because of that fragrance, the
bees had given up the forest flowers and without inhibition and
consideration were buzzing around his feet.

Beauty of the forest

42-45.Then Krsna, along with Balarama and the best of the cowherd
boys, entered the forest. There were aksa, plaksa, mango, tala,
sarala, banyan, tamala, jambu, nima, kadamba, salmali, dhava,
katphala, palasa, kharjura, arjuna, sala, pilu, khadira, bilva, lodhra,
asana, devadaru, tinisa, red candana, kapitha, asvattha, and yellow
daru trees. There were groves of flowering trees like mandara, hari-
candana, aguru, santana, campaka, punnaga, bakula, bata,
kuruvaka, asoka, ketaki, yuthi, jasmine, madhavi, patala, java,
sephalika, malli, mucukunda, kunda, nava-mallika, and golden
yuthika. There were fruit trees like guava, pomegranate, coconut,
jack fruit, banana, amrataka, orange, rucaka, madhuka, samika,
kakkola, kovidara, amalaki, clove, lavali, kama-ranga, jambi, sallaki,
karunalevu, tamarind, and kubjaka. All these trees, those bearing
both fruits and flowers and those bearing only fruits, were
surrounded at their bases by jeweled sand and embraced by various
types of creepers. All these trees, the most perfect in all ways,
increased the magnificence of the forest.

46. Their tops were emerald green, their branches were golden, their
budding leaves were ruby red, their flower buds were like coral, their
blossoming flowers were like diamonds and their fruits were like
vaidurya gems. In this way the groves of trees radiated their
brilliance.

47. These trees, reflected in the jeweled sands and in the waters
flowing from Govardhana Hill and towering in the sky to make friends
with all varieties of birds, were like desire trees capable of satisfying
all.

48. The forest with black soil became attractive with various types of
canopies fashioned from the trees, with jeweled pavilions, with
various types of jeweled earth, and with jeweled shoots springing
spontaneously from the earth. This place was not created by
Brahma. It is the eternal spiritual abode.

49. Some places in the forest were covered with emeralds. The
deer, thinking it was covered with tender shoots of grass, resided
there with great eagerness. Some places were covered with rubies.
In the winter season, the camari would remain there, thinking it was
the warm rays of the morning sun.

50. Some places were covered with the finest crystal. The sambara,
afflicted by the heat of summer, would gather there, thinking it was
the cooling rays of the moon. Some places were covered with
sapphires. The owls, afraid of the rays of the summer sun, would
take shelter there, thinking it was darkness.

The splendor of the six seasons

51. The goddess of the forest (vana-laksmi), who is dear to the six
seasons, served Krsna by her beauty. She wore a pearl necklace in
the form of the flower buds of spring. She was ornamented with the
mallika blossoms of summer. She showed her breasts in the form of
clusters of kadamba flowers of the monsoon season. Her smile was
a cluster of lotus blossoms of the autumn season. She wore lodhra
flowers of the dewy season as earrings. She was pleasing to behold
with her braid in the form of a madhukara garland bound by a string
of damanaka flowers of the dewy season.

52. The trees of the forest brought many items to offer to Krsna in
worship. Dew drops were the foot wash, new grass shoots was the
arghya, honey was the acamana, the best of fragrances was the
candana, the best of flowers was the flower offering, an ascending
line of bees was the incense, and charming buds were the lamps.
They offered naivedya with the ripened fruits which had fallen on the
ground.

53. The creepers began to dance in front of Krsna. The fickle breeze
was their guru, instructing them on the various movements. The
bees were the singers. In order to express the meaning of the
songs, the creepers spread their leaves, like hands, in different
ways. Various parts of their bodies expressed their joy. The huge
clusters of buds, like breasts, expressed their shyness and
submissiveness, while the blossoming flowers expressed their
smiles of joy.

54. One creeper became very shy and covered her flower smile with
her leaf-like hands. Another creeper, in great joy, began to weep
tears of honey. Another covered her beautiful breast-like bud clusters
with cloth in the form of pollen. Another creeper shook the swarms of
bees from her body.

55. Seeing Krsna, some creepers began to call out to him, using the
warbling of the cuckoos and the waving of their leaves in the breeze,
saying “Come here, come here.” With their half-opened blossoms
they smiled, to express their inner joy and eagerness for association
with Krsna.

56. Seeing Hari, some the creepers began to cry harshly through the
dry sound of the woodpecker and frowned through the meandering
rows of black bees. They released smiles tinged with anger through
the flowers, announced their refusal with the fluttering of their new
leaves, and began scolding through the chatter of the birds.

Playing in the forest

57. Acknowledging the love expressed by the creepers and giving

bliss to the trees who skillfully offered service with their fruits and
flowers, Krsna satisfied the jeweled earth and new sprouts of grass
by touching them with his lotus feet as he wandered here and there
in Vrndavana.

58. Enjoying his pastimes, Krsna arrived at the place called

Vasantotsava (festival of spring), where the droves of buzzing bees
resided in houses made from the flowering groves, where the
warbling of the cuckoos and other birds in the trees produced a
solitary place of amusement, and where the wind from the
sandalwood mountain made friendship with the swaying creepers.

59. Then he arrived at the placed called Grisma Santosavat

(satisfaction of summer), decorated with blossoms of sirisa flowers,
where there were cool waterfalls flowing from Govardhana Hill, the
crest jewel for pastimes, where the trees blocked out the rays of the
sun with their shadows, and where the wind blew gently scented with
the fragrance of the patali flower.

60. He next went to the place called Varsa Praharsa (the joy of
spring), where it seemed that the clouds had stopped their water and
were raining jasmine blossoms, where the clouds stopped
thundering and simply made music suitable for the peacocks’
dancing and embraced the wind which was scented with kadamba
flowers and moist with fine water drops.
61. Krsna, the youthful Cupid, then entered the place called Sarada
Moda (the pleasure of autumn) decorated with fully blooming white
lotuses, blue lotuses, red lotuses, white water lilies, and replete with
water birds like the karandvas, swans, herons, cranes, and egrets,
and where the water pools were rimmed with jewels and tasted like
nectar.

62. Krsna then went to the place called Hemanta Santosa

(satisfaction of winter season), which was red with ripe amrataka,
orange with ripe tangerines, yellow with ripe kamaranga, black with
slightly ripe bhallataka, white with blossoming lodhra flowers, and
decorated with unwithering amlana trees.

63. In order to respond to the loving affection of the forest called

Sisira Moda (pleasure of the dewy season) Madhava entered that
place, which seemed to weep in bliss, giving off tears of dew out of
anxiety for Krsna’s arrival, showing beautiful white teeth in the form
of kunda blossoms, and, like a women in separation from her
beloved, undoing her tresses of hair made of damanaka blossoms
shining brightly in the sun.

64. In this way, Krsna along with Balarama and the boys of Vraja,
wandering about, observed with love the forests filled with the
splendor of the six seasons. Decorated with the fruits and flowers of
the six seasons, Krsna, tired from his play, after consulting others,
selected a place for taking rest.

65. Krsna found a raised platform shining like lightening, licked clean
by the camari deer, smeared with sandalwood and musk by musk
deer, and scented by the water dripping from the hair of the sabari.

66. The remarkable personality with dark complexion, who sports in

the garden of love, who is the attractor of Cupid by his unsurpassed
beauty, offered love to all beings with the lake of his sweet smile.
Krsna, the pleasure of all eyes, endowed with all auspicious
qualities, along with Baladeva and the cowherd boys, gazed at the
platform and then climbed up to take rest.

67. One friend made a bed of fresh leaves, another offered his leg as
a pillow, while another began to massage his lotus feet. Another
brought heaps of fruit and affectionately made him eat them. In the
same way, another group of friends served Balarama. They also
began to exchange services.

Going to the bank of the Yamuna River

68. After resting a while, Krsna, intent on cow herding, understood

that the cows arrayed in front were thirsty after eating the grass. He
had the cowherd boys, following the sound of his flute, lead the cows
to the bank of the Yamuna River.

69. Sridama selected some of the bulls and their cows to drink at
the Yamuna and others to drink in a jewel studded pond. After
quenching their thirst with the water, he fed them tender sallaki tree
shoots with his own hand and fully satisfied them.

70. Two bulls, equal in age, form, strength and horn growth, both
equal objects of Krsna’s affection, locked horns and began to fight.
When he saw them competing with great effort and becoming angry
at each other, by playing his flute he extinguished their anger.

The love of the cowherd women

71. “Our husbands are fearsome, stealing life, mind, desire and
intelligence. Elders like Jatila have sharp tongues and become
dangerous when angry. Even our friends cannot help us attain
Krsna. We cannot trust our minds. What shall we do? O shyness
and fear! Leave us now! We are no longer alive.”

72. Thinking in this way, the gopis gave up fear and shame, and
began hoping for a meeting with Krsna which would destroy their
anguish. They came to the forest of Vrndavana on the pretext of
collecting flowers. The all merciful, uncontrollable Krsna, knowing
this, became filled with joy.

73. Yogamaya assisted the gopis by making illusory bodies for the
married gopis, and making the husbands and mothers-in-law believe
that the gopis were nearby. But the astonishing fact is that even
gopis could not understand how Yogamaya was helping. What then
to speak of others?
 Chapter Four
Noon Pastimes
1. Playing his flute to destroy all sorrow and pain, Krsna then entered
the auspicious forest called Vasanta Subhaga (Auspicious Spring).

2. This he did unknown to Balarama and the other cowherd boys,

who were preoccupied with tending the cows. Several young boys
who assisted srngara-rasa knew Krsna’s intentions.

The sweetness of Krsna’s form

3. The beauty of Krsna’s form completely defeated the pride of a

mirror made of the best blue sapphires. He defeated millions of
Cupids with that form which shone brighter than a million suns and
sweeter than a million moons.

4. His hair was glossy, soft, wavy, blackish, scented, long and
pleasing to the eye.

5. His face easily defeated the splendor of the moon. Beauty itself
became the servant of his face. The sweetness of beauty danced
across his face.

6. His forehead was the acme of effulgence, whose upper portion

was covered with curly locks of hair. It was the abode of all
auspiciousness, sweetness and beauty, with attractive, colorful
tilaka.

7. His incomparable, moving eyebrows, components of his beauty,

expressing the desires of their master and conquering the influence
of Cupid’s bow, were like rows of bees attached to his lotus face.
8-9. The two beautiful eyes of the destroyer of agha (sin), whose
edges contracted without cause, were red like the lotus, rolling as if
completely intoxicated, long and wide, with thick eye lashes.

10. His nose was more attractive than a sesame flower, pointed
down like Cupid’s quiver, and shaped like a parrot’s beak.

11. His ears, dangling with makara earrings which enhanced the
beauty of his cheeks, were like two new petals on the lotus of his
face.

12. His cheeks, reflecting the movements of the jeweled earrings,

kissed as a booty in a wager by the dear gopis, was enhanced by his
soft smile.

13. His lips, whose edges were like a well of sweet nectar, were
glowing. Exquisitely marked with lines from his intense pastimes,
defeating the bandhuli flower in color, they showed excessive pride.

14. His auspicious chin was like two ripe jambu fruits, the lower and
middle parts being deep. It seemed to flow with streams of nectar.

15-16. When he smiled, he showed his cute teeth, which defeated

the beauty of pearls in luster. They were marked with red lines,
surpassing a pile of sikhara jewels, the color of ripe pomegranate
seeds. They were the essence of spiritual pastimes.

17. His praiseworthy pink tongue, an indescribable magnificence in

the sweet beauty of his face, was like a new petal emerging from the
center of a lotus.

18. His attractive throat, which put sapphires to shame, was

decorated with three strong, beautiful lines.

19. His chest, the abode of Laksmi, was broad and raised like a
jeweled door, radiant with the Srivatsa (white hair curl turning to the
right) and Kaustubha.
20. Krsna had a most auspicious back, with an indentation in the
middle, spreading out to his broad shoulders, thickly built at the root
of the arms, and fully developed on the sides.

21-22. His magnificent, thick arms challenged the legs of elephants,

like jeweled sacrificial pillars for binding up his lovers during
pastimes, with most kissable elbows. His nails were radiant and his
hands were well formed with rings of gold, diamond, sapphire, ruby
and pearl on each finger. They looked like snakes with five jeweled
heads.

23. What man would not lose his intelligence on seeing his well-
developed abdomen, shaped like an asvattha leaf (broad at the top
and narrowing at the waist), with three distinct lines created by the
raised and indented portions of his torso, with a deep navel like a
lake.

24. Who would not become intoxicated by the creeper of beautiful

hair rising from the well of his navel, rising boldly over the skin of his
abdomen?

25. Siva’s damaru drum would crumble to pieces on seeing the

graceful waist of Krsna, so narrow one could grasp it in his fist.

26. He had raised, rounded buttocks and hips bound by a golden

belt, a garland of sparkling light rays, whose sound conquered that of
the best vina.

27. Who would not become greedy on seeing the breadth, thickness,
hardness and dark complexion of his thighs, which surpassed Lord
Brahma’s creation of the banana trunk?

28. His knees which were intensely graceful, not too prominent, well-
muscled and rounded, and not boney, competed with the brilliant
treasure chest of Cupid.
29. Who could go elsewhere after seeing his lower legs, gradually
narrowing, sweet like honey flowing down from his knees?

30. His two calves were a bubbling ocean of rasa, two of Cupid’s
play balls, as beautiful as kadamba blossoms.

31. Like streams flowing down from a river of sweetness, imitating

the luster of lotuses, tinted the color of rubies, ornamented with the
sparkle of his toe nails, marked with the attractive ankusa, flag, lotus,
barley corn, his attractive feet bestowed supreme happiness.

32. In this way, bestowing the limits of what his devotee could ever
desire and destroying the pride of other youths’ beauty, Vrajendra-
nandana performed his pastimes in Vrndavana.

Meeting with the gopis

34. The exquisitely beautiful Radha arrived at a place in the forest

near of the groves prepared by Vrnda Devi--with the intention of
meeting Krsna alone and having pastimes of love with him.

35. On the pretext of gathering flowers, Radha and the sakhis had
come from Yavata with great eagerness to this forest to see their
beloved.

36. The clever sakhis, with great longing to see the pastimes of love
and ascertaining the location of Krsna, the milker of rasa, brought
their friends to the place, saying, “Come over here! Come over
here!”

37. As moon-faced Radha began plucking flowers from each of the

creepers with her friends, she heard the attractive sound of Krsna’s
lover--his flute.

38. Suddenly the sound of that flute rose from the forest into the ears
of the women and spread deep bliss in their hearts.
39. Simultaneously, their bodies erupted in goose bumps, tears
began to flow from their eyes and their hands stopped picking
flowers.

40. Though these best of women had many times previously seen
the object of their love, it was as if they were seeing him for the first
time. Such is the contrary nature of prema.

41. And though they saw him, with pride they hid their love and
absorbed themselves in picking the flowers.

Conversation of the Gopis

42. Visakha began to laugh and said to Radha, “Don’t pluck the
flowers from this creeper, because this creeper has become full of
blossoms during the waning phase of the moon. (It has taken shelter
of Krsna, krsna-paksa.) Her hands in the form of branches are
pulling your dress, suggesting that you pluck the flower of Krsna’s
heart.”

43. Radha replied, “This creeper is bearing special flowers white like
the waxing phase of the moon (sukla-paksa). Why do you say that it
blossoms during the waning phase (krsna-paksa)? As this creeper
cannot bear the pain of my separation from Krsna, it is simply
distracting me for amusement. (or This creeper being favorable to
Krsna is laughing by showing white flowers. How then can you say
that she understands my pain of separation and is trying to divert my
mind?)

44. Visakha said, “O fool! You must be careful because the bee is
approaching with the intention of tasting your attractive face, thinking
it to be a lotus. Black things do not have good character.”

45. Radha said, “Oh! When women like you show your lotus faces,
how is it possible that the bee could taste my scentless face?”
46. Visakha said, “O beautiful eyed one! It is the custom on earth
that one should not touch a woman during her period (or when
flowering–puspavati). Therefore, O friend, don’t touch this creeper.
But during this month of Madhu (Caitra), the jasmine creeper
becomes pure, being covered with tender leaves and no flowers,
suitable for everyone to touch.” (or O Radha, just as the jasmine is
the best among all creepers, you are the best among all gopis. You
are famous as the purest in Vraja and particularly during this month
of Caitra you have assumed attractive ornaments of leaves, suitable
for being touched by Madhusudana.)

47. Radha said, “All the creepers of this forest are pure, even though
flowering (puspavati). The wind, just by touching them, purifies the
whole universe and destroys all suffering.” (All the gopis of Vraja,
even though in their periods, are still most pure. Touching them, the
crest jewel of fickleness purifies the whole universe and destroys all
suffering.)

48. Visakha said, “O friend! Look at this attractive flowering asoka

tree. Go to it quickly and serve it. All the residents of Vraja are going
there to get heaps of excellent red flowers. (See this generous male,
decorated with flowers. Go and serve him. Those who go to Krsna
attain intense attraction for him.)

49. Radha said, “O friend! Please understand that I will not touch
even the name of a man bearing a body filled with lust. Keep that
asoka tree far from me. O intelligent one, you can go there.” (I don’t
want to hear even the name of that playboy. Keep that cheater far
away. If you are so intelligent, then you go and associate with him.)

50. Visakha said, “Just see there, how attractive the punnaga tree
stands with its delicate, attractive flowers. (See how beautifully Krsna
stands with his affectionate mind.) Exuding its fragrance, it is
manifesting a host of qualities which bewitch your eyes.”

51. Radha said, “What you previously mentioned about other trees
is also a fault in this tree. But take its flowers and you will be
satisfied. Raising yourself up, you can pick the flowers. That tree
with its attractive blossoms should be desired by you. (You should
worship him and you will be satisfied. You have been elevated. He
can be attained by you. And you are desirous of attaining he who is
dressed in fancy clothes.)

52. Hearing the words of the sakhis and the delightful answers of
beautifully eyed Radha, the cunning enjoyer of rasa thought of how
he could win over Radha.

53. Though full of desire for enjoyment, he began to consider in his

heart, “If I go to them now in a direct way, then this charming
conversation will quickly get dissipated. Hiding in the creepers I will
listen.

54. “Great desire has arisen in their hearts but externally they show
the opposite. Eventually I will subdue all of them.

55. “They make me hear their sweet words and reveal to me their
attractive minds. They inspire me. But though they are filled with
love for me, out of pride they do not even glance at me.”

56. Thinking that by playing his flute he would take away the pride of
Radha, Krsna leisurely walked toward the grove of creepers.

The statements of the gopis and Radha’s response

57. The gopis said, “The scent of the sandalwood of Hari, which
spreads everywhere, which conquers all other scents without
obstruction, and which binds the gopis, has arrived here.”

58. Radha said, “How has a lion (hari) come here? And from where
did he get sandalwood paste? Friends, pick the flowers and do not
be afraid. The intelligent person does not fear without cause. (If the
man-lion comes, we will satisfy him by decorating him with garlands
made from the flowers we pick.)
59. The sakhis said, “O friend, we do not hear the enchanting
sounds of the flute as we did before. Has the most beautiful,
enchanting Vrajendra-nandana gone away?”

60. Radha said, “The forest wind has entered the bamboos here and
created that sound. O lotus eyed ones, you have mistaken the
sound of the wind in the dry bamboos for his flute.”

61. “Whether it is the lotus eyed playboy or not, please elaborate on

his qualities and try to express you heart-felt desires.”

62. Radha said, “I have become frightened associating with fickle

women like you. I have had enough of playing in the forest. O Lalita!
I am going home. You can amuse yourselves here.”

63. Lalita said, “Why don’t you complete the task for which you
came here, without becoming angry? After finishing this task, we will
all go together. Incomplete desires are not praiseworthy.”

64. “Here is a forest garland of various colored flowers with the most
exquisite perfume. If you like, decorate yourself with its flowers.”

65. “Who would not become blinded by the scent of the punnaga
tree (supreme male), whose fragrance is spread everywhere and by
which the bees (women) are showing their pride?”

66. One sakhi said, “Is this forest not beautiful? Are not the flowers
blooming here? Is not the naga-kesara situated here? Is your mood
not inclined to romance in this place?”

67. Radha said, “Go to that place where the flowers are easily
obtained. But do not continue this unsuitable conversation. I have
no desire for flower ornaments. Have no doubt about it.”

68. Lalita said, “See, we do not want the flowering creepers

(female). And according to you, the male flowering trees are
detestable. So tell us if we can go to some neuter grove. There we
can pick flowers. (We will search out that person decorated with
flowers and make him into your throat ornament.)”

69. Radha said, “Let us not think of these things any longer, lest our
desires become fruitless. Does not the woman in love long to see
the beautiful objects of the grove?”

70. The lotus eyed sakhis, hearing these words of Radha,

surrounded her like a garland of light and went off towards the grove
of Krsna.

Going to the grove

71. Radha, with her necklaces swaying over her breasts, surrounded
by her companions, advancing slowly and gracefully while ankle
bells murmured, spread beauty throughout the forest.

72. Wherever the scent of their lotus faces penetrated, the bees
became blinded, and, flying up, darkened the sky with their fluttering
wings.

73. Radha was endowed with graceful eye lashes. Wherever she
glanced, it seemed to rain petals of the blue lotus, which gave
satisfaction to the excited bees.

74. Wherever her form, effulgent as lightening in a cloudless sky,

shone, that place became completely illuminated, as a dark place is
illuminated by the moon.

75. Wherever the rays from her toe nails danced upon the bosom of
the earth like waves, the cakora birds, even in the daylight, began to
open their beaks and tried to plunder that moonlight.

76. And that grove where the colorful Vrajendra-nandana was

staying also radiated a splendor suitable for the battle of love.

Reaction to Krsna’s flute

77. The gopis came to that grove. On seeing them, his fevered mind
became pacified and as the sound of his flute entered their ears,
they began to lose their composure.

78. When the gopis who had been so disturbed while plucking
flowers heard the flute, their hands began to shake. Their bodies
trembling like those of does. With eyes darting here and there, they
became stunned.

79. Their cheeks became covered with goose bumps and their eyes
began to flow with uninterrupted tears. They were trying to control
their emotions but they could not control themselves at all.

80. One gopi, looking at Radha, said, “That flute which you derided
as a piece of dry bamboo is now requesting you to glorify it in
humility.”

81. Another sakhi said, “Why are you joking with her like that?
Radha, without discrimination, is teaching you the limits of self-
control. You see, her body is erupting in goose bumps by the touch
of the cool wind and her eyes are shedding tears from the falling
pollen.”

82. The chief moon-faced gopi, Radha, becoming angry at both,

said, “My purposes in associating with you have now been fulfilled.”

The arrival of Krsna and the treatment of the gopis

83. When their dry arguments had given enough bliss to the
listeners, the master of women, Krsna, who enjoys tasting them,
smiling sweetly, emerged from the grove.

84. Seeing that desirable youth, the thief who steals the jewel of the
gopis’ minds, they became stunned, like stationary lightning in the
sky.
85. Having heard their previous exchanges, Krsna had become most
eager. With his necklace swaying, he drew close to them. Like the
testing stone for gold (prema), he began to speak in a sweet voice.

86. “Oh my beautiful faced gopis! Is it your skill that you can come
here without hindrance? I am so affectionate to you. Tell me what I
can do for you. Please reveal your desires in your sweet voices.

87. “O gopis, I think that you are most auspicious guests for me at
my auspicious forest. As a result of great punyas in a previous life I
have attained such people as you as my guests.

88. “O gopis! You can accept from me the most suitable worship.
And there should be no cause for blame in accepting that worship.
And if you do not accept, it will be my offense for not worshipping
you. What offense can there be for you?”

89. Then one sakhi said, “Yes, we know that you are that son of the
king of Vraja, famous for his impeccable character. You are the
purifier of your dynasty (you are the player of the flute, which
bewilders us). Moon of the family of Nanda, we are not qualified to
accept worship from you.”

90. Another sakhi said, “For a person who has millions of wonderful
qualities, I cannot consider one fault important. So we can accept
worship from this ocean of good qualities.”

91. Radha then thought of giving good advice to these two chief
gopis (Lalita and Visakha), who were expert and attractive in
arguing, with the purpose of pleasing her.

Arguments with the master of the forest

92. One sakhi said, “O Krsna, bewildered in intelligence! This forest,

sheltering all people, beasts and birds, has no distinctions, so why
do you call it yours, showing off your possessive instincts?”
93. Krsna said, “Though the forest makes no distinctions, he who
has qualification becomes the master. That is the truth. I do not wish,
however, to quarrel with women like you, who are intent on
worshiping the gods (intent on pastimes with me.)”

94. When the arguments had reached an uncontrollable stage, the

lotus eyed Radha, understanding the intense enthusiasm, spoke up
in great joy.

95. Not showing a speck of pride, but smiling, she said, “Just see
friends! Hear what I have to say. Give up all these exchanges, which
give rise to fruitless arguments.”

96. “He is one and you are many. Out of envy, do not act improperly.
This prince of the king of Vraja is worthy of your respect.”

97. Then Krsna spoke to Radha. “O fortunate one! I am speaking the

truth when I say that I am not different from you. Everyone knows I
am yours. Should I not have some pride because of that?”

98. Hearing her beloved speak like this, the golden Radha thought,
“Because I have said he should be respected, he is now saying such
sweet words.”

99. Krsna said, “O my dear one! Dependent on you, I have come to

you. Though I am an ocean of good qualities, I am your servant.
What should I do for your satisfaction?’

100. Hearing these words of her beloved, the pride of the women
which was like bubbling foam suddenly disappeared.

Playing in the Forest

101. Then Krsna entered the forest with these innocent, love stricken
women, and began amusing himself in the bowers, finely
constructed from trees and creepers.
102. Krsna plucked bakula flowers and began stringing them,
making flower necklaces, armlets and belts for the gopis.

103. Cutting the ketaki petals with his nails, he fashioned vestika
and karnika ornaments.

104. Mixing thick honey and pollen from the naga-kesara flowers, he
applied beautiful tilaka on the foreheads of the gopis.

105. From large, round, flawless, evenly colored mallika buds he

made pearl-like necklaces which he placed on the gopis’ chests.

106. Using the hollow end of his flute, he cut small circles from
tender leaves and made circular ear ornaments for the gopis.

107. The gopis then developed the desire to fashion ornaments for
Krsna. For that purpose they desired to collect the right flowers.
Cupid, their main helper, made all arrangements for this.

108. When Radha desired to pick some naga-kesara flowers but was
unable to reach them when she stretched out her arms, the king of
amorous intentions took her in his snake-like arms.

109. Radha, thinking this was not the best type of help, with shaking
body said, “O cheater! O king of rascals! Let go of me! Let go of me!
I no longer want those flowers.”

110. When Krsna released her, she suddenly fell. She glared at
Krsna’s face in anger. The sakhis, mildly smiling, made them both
hear some remarkable words suitable to the situation.

111. “When the man marked the pomegranate with his bright finger
nails, she let out a cry, showing her attractive teeth.”

112. “When the lover joined his lips to the red petal, she hid her face,
though excited by the prospects of love.”
113. “When the lover, being eager, embraced the creeper loaded
with flower clusters, the jewel of youthfulness, Radha, with a show of
anger, covered herself with her two crossed arms.”

114. One sakhi made earrings for Krsna from various colored leaves
and white and yellow flower petals.

115. One sakhi, using white, yellow, green and red leaves, made a
flute as brilliant as Krsna’s.

116. One fortunate sakhi made a crown of campaka flowers and a

belt of naga-kesara flowers like Cupid’s vina.

Entering the forest called Joy of Summer and water sports

117. Having completed forest pastimes to stimulate remarkable love

and still unsatisfied, Krsna quickly went to the forest called Joy of
Summer.

118. In this forest the sirisa flowers were blooming and patali and
kutaja flowers were blossoming everywhere. Entering that forest, he
sat down under a pleasing flowering tree to rest.

119. The breeze fragrant with the patali flowers, as if emanating from
the camara-like sirisa flowers, shook the edges of their clothing, and
seemed to serve the gopis who had become tired and faded in their
faces from walking.

120. In order to probe the secrets of amorous play, the gopis then
desired to play with abandon in the Yamuna River, which was like a
commentary on the scriptures concerning love and whose banks
were covered with assorted jewels.

121. They all proceed to the bank of the Yamuna and, resting at a
cottage there for a few moments, Krsna developed a strong desire
for water sports.
122. Purifying all the fierce aquatic animals of their anger bred of
envy, he had them all leave the Yamuna.

123. The sand on the river bank shone like powdered camphor and
the saivala water plants shone like jeweled creepers. Her waves
were goosebumps and the saphari fish were her agitated glances.

124. With her hands in the form of waves and the cries of the egrets
calling out “Come here, come here” the Yamuna, daughter of the
sun, beckoned lovingly to the gopis.

125. She seemed to fan the slender women with moon white
camaras in the form of the wings of the flying, restless young ducks.

126. The Yamuna became filled with the women submerged to their
knees, loins, navel and stomach and, though devoid of material mud,
she became stained everywhere with the kumkuma and scents from
the hands and feet of the young women.

127. The water birds, shaking their wings, called out to the sky in
bliss and formed a canopy which blocked out the rays of the sun.

128. At the bank of the Yamuna there was an attractive stretch of

sand on which there was a most praiseworthy forest. In the forest
there was a most attractive grove and in that grove were various
items for engaging in pastimes.

129. In that forest various types of deer frolicked and colorful birds
chirped. Various trees supplied comfort and various creepers
engaged in play.

130. Over the water, touching the delicate waves, countless flocks of
chortling swans, cranes, and egrets were moving about continuously.

131. To the jeweled grove Vrnda Devi had brought enjoyable,

attractive, praiseworthy edibles, drinks, clothing and other items
suitable for summer.
132. Within a clump of jewel lotuses there was a house for conjugal
pleasure and within the house were the best of beds with many
pillows and sheets.

133. The gopis, who enjoyed water sports, seeing the Yamuna
supplied in this way, desired to enjoy with Krsna and approached the
water.

134. The lotuses began dancing, the female bees began to sing
sweet songs with their consorts, the trees began to shower flowers,
and the birds began to shout “Jaya, jaya.”

135. On the bank there were many jeweled ghatas suitable for
pastimes. At the ghata where Krsna descended to the Yamuna the
group of gopis also entered into the Yamuna.

136. Though the gopis were eager for play, they became very
serious; though they did not fear elders, they were fearful of losing
Krsna’s company. Therefore though scattered out, they now grouped
together closely.

137. One gopi, fearing that immersing herself in the water would
destroy a flower ornament made by Krsna, decided to stay on the
bank of the Yamuna.

138. Seeing the gopi standing on the bank the other doe eyed gopis,
filled with love, began to pull her into the water.

139. Seeing that she was reluctant, they began to splash her with
water with their lotus hands while laughing.

140. As their beauty began to increase, their faces made friends with
the lotuses, their breasts made friends with the cakravaka birds and
their navels made friends with the whirl pools.
141. Joining their hands together, they formed a golden net. As the
moonlight surrounds the clouds, they surrounded Krsna with their
golden net.

142. Being caught in their net, Krsna made the dancer of his glance
dance, thus conquering their eyes, and he broke the net of the gopis
by a huge wave of water.

143. When they came close and began pouring water over him,
Krsna covered his eyes with his hands and tolerated the shower of
their water.

144. Then, because of the torrents of water showered by Krsna, the

bodies of all the gopis became helpless. However their blissful faces
remained without fading, like the disk of the moon.

145. As the bliss increased to a crescendo, Radha, with lotus face,

brows like swarms of bees, and arms like water lily stems, taking the
Yamuna as her companion, immersed herself in the Yamuna.

146. When she began splashing him with water with her lotus bud
hands, accompanied by the sound of her jeweled bangles, it was like
the water weapon of Cupid. It became intolerable to Krsna, who was
desiring victory.

147. Using her cupped hands like a water bearing cloud, in great
amusement she began to shower upon him long streams of water.

148. The attractive streams of water, falling upon Krsna’s chest,

began to sparkle. His chest seemed pierced by the indescribable
power of long, penetrating arrows of Cupid without tails.

149. Krsna’s garland became disordered and his necklace fell apart.
Only his Kaustubha was able to withstand defeat.

150. “See if you can withstand my water splashes!” Laughing in her

face, with great bliss, Krsna began to splash Radha with pleasurable
streams of water.

151. Though feeling afflicted by the water thrown by Krsna, restless

eyed Radha could easily tolerate it by covering her eyes with her
lotus hands. The desires of Radha are so astonishing!

Lotus war

152. As the war of water died down, the bliss of love awoke. Taking
shelter of the lotus-like, graceful eyed gopis, the war of the lotuses
began.

153. The sakhis, plucking all the unwithered lotuses, handed them
to Radha. Raising her arms high and showing her armpits, she threw
them at Krsna’s chest.

154. Catching all the lotuses that Radha, overcome with ecstasy,
had thrown at his chest, Krsna, laughing in amusement, threw them
all back at Radha.

155. Being thrown back and forth in this way, and associating with
their hands, the lotuses, increasing in beauty, became most
excellent. They were like Cupid’s shuttle weaving a golden cloth of
great prema.

156. Smelling their bliss-giving fragrance and following after the

thrown lotuses, the bees flew back and forth like the arrows of the
couple’s glances.

157. The creepers of Radha’s arms wilted, her breath became

heavy, her eyes became tired, and her chest heaved. But her thirst
for sport increased.

158. When one bee gave up the lotus and took shelter of Radha’s
lotus feet and a saphari fish took shelter of her feet, in fear she clung
to her lover’s chest.
159. Then the sakhis fearlessly gathered and surrounded the
couple. Laughing and raising their arms, they began to throw lotuses
at both of them.

160. Laughing blissfully, Radha and Krsna took lotus leaves and
stems in their hands and evaded the rain of lotuses thrown by the
sakhis.

161. What should the sakhis do when their leader Radha had given
up the fight? The water birds, on Krsna’s side, spread their wings
and began to dance.

162. Seeing Radha, slightly bend over, up to her chest in water, two
cakravaka birds approached her breasts, thinking them to be their
own species.

163. Seeing this, with increased pleasure, Krsna began to touch

those two birds with his hands. But Radha covered her breasts with
her crossed arms.

164. When Krsna offered rounded thick lotus stems (arms) to her
throat, the creeper of Radha’s arms erupted in goosebumps. See the
spectacle of prema!

Looking for submerged Krsna

165. Krsna said to Radha, “O friend! Have your friends surround me

on all sides and you stay near me all the time. I will dunk myself in
the water and you all try to find me and catch me.”

166. With a word from Radha, they all took up positions around
Krsna and Krsna, in front of Radha, submerged himself.

167. The gopis, with their hands spread out, were like a luminous
circular net. To search for Krsna they gradually came close to
Radha, decreasing the diameter of the circle as they searched for
Krsna.
168. As they came closer, their bodies crowded together and the
water became turbulent with the movement of their delicate hands.

169. In this way, while enjoying themselves, the gopis came close to
Radha. Not finding Krsna in this way, all they could do was stand
there laughing.

170. Seeing them standing there laughing, Radha asked them, “Who
among you has given that schemer space so that he could escape?”

171. One after the other, the sakhis said, “I didn’t give him room! But
somehow, somewhere, he has escaped out of fear of you.”

172. “O friend, you must certainly know about him. We don’t know
anything about your fleeing lover. Having the marks of recent love on
your body, why are you hiding something from us, who are simply
dependent on you?”

173. Becoming the object of a joke by the gopis, Radha, though

surprised and anxious because of separation from her lover for a
second, while pondering, threw her glances here and there.

174. Then a swarm of bees, through their buzzing, pointed out

playful, happy Krsna hiding among the water lilies.

175. Fearing Krsna would escape, the sakhis formed a tight circle
and quickly surrounded him.

176. Surrounded by the gopis who were tasting victory like generals
in the battle of love, Krsna, by his lotus glance, caused a flow of
mercy sweet as honey, and they became satisfied.

177. “Why are you surrounding me as I play by myself in this clump

of lotuses? Though defeated, why do you not show shame? Would
you like to try again?”
178. When Krsna spoke these sweet but scolding words, the gopis,
though smiling, angrily spoke to sweet, faultless Krsna.

179. “Giving up the battle of lotuses, you fled and took shelter of this
lotus forest. Though being defeated by the most skillful women, do
you not show shame?

180. “Submerging yourself in the water for a moment and by deceit

fleeing away somehow or other, don’t you have shame?”

181-182. Radha said, “Who should know about this? To whom

should one tell this? It is not suitable to tell to anyone. Thus he has
gone to the water lilies and told them of his defeat at your hands. As
he is one and you are many, it is natural that he should have lost.”
When Radha said this, Krsna developed a desire.

183. “O beautiful one! Come here! You alone are on my side and
know my heart. The opposing side does not know my intentions at
all. I will worship you alone.” Saying this, greedy Krsna decorated
Radha.

184. He decorated her ears with lotus seed husks. He made an

attractive hair ornament from the best of leaves and petals. Using
lotus pollen power, he drew many intricate patterns to express his
many desires.

185. He made a jeweled belt from saivala plants and a necklace

from water lily stems. He decorated her cheeks with colored lotus
pollen.

186. Taking water in one hand and striking it with the other hand,
imitating the sounds of water frogs, the gopis began to celebrate
victory.

187. Though the gopis became tired in body, their minds did not
cease to endeavor for pastimes. When the gopis finally desired to
get out of the water, the Yamuna felt great sorrow.
188-190. The lotuses had become the servants of the gopis’ faces.
The blue lotuses had become the servants of their eyes. The
cakravaka pairs had become the servants of their breasts. The water
lily stems had become the servants of their arms. And the gopis’
faces attained the beauty of the lotuses, their arms attained the
beauty of the water lily stems, their breasts attained the beauty of the
cakravaka birds, and their eyes attained the beauty of the blue
lotuses. In this way a great friendship had been established between
the Yamuna and the gopis.

191. Witness the greatness of Krsna’s water sports! Being beyond

the three gunas, beyond bondage, beyond attachment, beyond
contamination, and beyond material description, those pastimes are
capable of giving liberation. Their necklaces became unstrung (guna
nasa: the three gunas were destroyed). Their hairdos became
unbound (they were released from bondage). The color of their lips
faded (material attachment vanished). Their bangles ceased to
jingle (they ceased to speak material words). Their belts became
loose (they became liberated). By the water sports, Krsna liberated
the gopis.

193. Being embarrassed to take off their thin clothes as the water
drops dripped from their bodies, those pitiable bodies seemed to be
weeping tears.

194. Their bodies became pale and their eyes became red like
lotuses. This combination became attractive to Krsna.

195. Some gopis however, after finishing playing early, had bathed
themselves, dried themselves, put on their clothing, and went to the
previously described groves situated on the bank of the Yamuna,
which were decorated with many types of cloths.

196. Forgetting all their present difficulties, out of love for Radha
and Krsna, the sakhis arranged to perform a splendid avabhrthya
bath as a conclusion to the sacrifice of the water pastimes.
197-198. Those devoted women, bodies soaked in perspiration,
brought out the beauty of the couple as they sprinkled them with
water with their graceful lotus bud hands, jingling with bracelets. In
doing so, they covered the couple’s bodies with lotus pollen, lotus
petals, stamens and stalks.

199. Mixing scented oil with more perfumes, they first cleansed their
hair and then wiped their limbs.

200. In this way, the sakhis bathed the couple with water and then
together they all bathed. Together, they went towards the groves on
the bank of the Yamuna.

Service to their limbs

201. Those devoted gopis who had come from the Yamuna early
began to serve the couple in various ways in the grove humming
with swarms of bees.

202. Those who were glancing towards the grove, simply waiting for
their chance to do service, tasted internal bliss from having made
ornaments and clothing suitable for the summer.

203. Radha had servants like Madhumati and Indumati remove the
water from her hair using a soft cloth.

204. Madhuri, Madhurika and Manimala wiped her limbs and

Madhavi, Manimati and Sasilekha brought ornaments and cloth.

205. In this way also, Syamala, Lalita, Visakha, Kaumudi, Kumudini

and Madalekha served the daughter of Vrsabhanu, golden like a
cluster of lightning flashes.

206. Two groups helped each other arrange their own clothes and
then together they approached Krsna.
207. With the intention of making clothing and ornaments for Krsna
which were suitable for summer, Radha, with satisfied heart,
approached Krsna and embraced him.

208. Radha made a topknot in his hair, which leaned over and
kissed his forehead. She also made an excellent head ornament
from mallika buds.

209. She applied fragrant camphor mixed with cool sandalwood

water to Krsna’s body using the tip of a small brush.

210. She playfully placed on his chest a necklace of mallika flowers

and ornamented him with jeweled armlets, bracelets and long
earrings.

211. On his feet whose nails outshone the moon, she placed ankle
bells and on his forehead she drew tilaka in the shape of the moon
using sandalwood.

212. Incomparable Radha then placed on him an upper cloth which

revealed the beauty of his body, his ointment and decorations, and
which fluttered in the breeze.

Forest Picnic

213-214. Kaumudi, Kumudini, Kumudvati, Sitala, Sasikala, Kalavati,

Rupa-manjari, Ananga-manjari, Keli-manjari, Asoka-manjari and
other doe-eyed gopis, skillful at preparing picnic lunches, began to
prepare the picnic along with Vrnda and her associates.

215-216. They brought fine, soft, white rice of unearthly quality, with
grains separated as if at enmity with each other, sprinkled with
fragrant butter and pure buttermilk. Though all the items had been
brought from the house early in the morning, they were packed in
new earthen vessels and they appeared pure and without fault.
217. They placed in that place piles of excellent, nourishing yogurt,
brilliant as the moon, white as camphor, conquering the nectar ocean
in sweetness.

218-223. Vrnda and her associates offered emerald green cups

made of palasa leaves. These cups were full ripe succulent, sweet
pomegranate seeds and their juice, while others were filled with tala
fruit and its ambrosial juice. Other cups were full of white coconut
shining like the moon and tender bijapura. Other cups were full of the
tala seed centers, soft as cotton, and roots and sprouts. Other cups
were full of peeled lotus seeds and fat, oily kaseru. Others will full of
tangerine and sweet pilu fruits. Others were filled with slices of tasty,
juicy green mango, and ripe, firm, fragrant grapes. Others were filled
with newly sprouted mung with salt and ginger, giving a pleasing
taste. Others were filled with slices of tender, juicy sugar cane.

224. There was mango juice in white, glass pitchers and crystal
cups, filling the directions with its fragrance.

225. There were also cool drinks in which were mixed camphor,
pepper and plenty of white sugar.

226. There was a pile of coconut meat cut in conch shapes. This
was covered with a soft cloth to preserve its sweetness and
fragrance.

227. Radha took a little of each sweet, fragrant item, and with a
smiling face, offered it to the hand of Krsna.

228. She expertly cut mango with a beautiful knife and derived great
bliss in offering the pieces to the lotus hands of her beloved.

229. Selecting the best mangos, squeezing them with her hands to
extract the juice into golden cups, she offered the juice to Krsna.

230. Whatever Radha offered with her beautiful hands, Krsna ate
with great bliss.
231. In this way, lotus faced, lotus-eyed Syamasundara finished his
meal in the forest and performed acamana.

232. Scenting his mouth with excellent spices spiced with camphor,
he sat down at the entrance of the grove on a jewel stone at the
base of a tree.

233. The hearts of the gopis, eager to eat for the sweet remnants of
Krsna’s plate, became unsteady as the time approached for serving.

234. The sakhis all thought, “First our leader Radha should eat and
afterwards we will eat separately.” Knowing these thoughts, Radha
spoke.

235. “O faithful Vrnda! We will all eat together. You should expertly
distribute the remnants. Without you, I can do nothing, what to speak
of eating.”

236. Then the sakhis sat in a circle and Vrnda first served Radha
and then the others, one by one.

237. Vrnda made each of the sakhis relish the prasadam, and after
finishing the served items, they all understood that the items had
become tastier because of the touch of their beloved’s lips.

238. Radha and her friends, blissful because of their companionship,

gradually ate all the items. They then washed their mouths and
scented them with tambula fragrant with camphor.

Playing dice

239. Then Krsna and the gopis with bimba-red lips gathered at that
place. All were expert at dice and their minds were gladdened by
the ecstasies of love.
240. This gathering of Vrajendra-nandana and the best of all women
looked splendorous. They were seated on a slab of sapphire under
a tree at the edge of the grove.

241. Vrnda, knowing well the hints of the gopis and Radha, said to
Hari, “O lotus eyed one! Let us see your skill at playing dice.”

242. “Just see, this game board is skillfully crafted with wood and
gold inlay lines. The beautiful pieces (pawns) are made from
emerald and gold.

243. “O Krsna, whose arms reach the knees! There are attractive
dice, made of ivory, elegantly marked. It is astonishing that you have
not become absorbed in a nice dice game to increase pleasure a
hundred times.”

244. Hearing this, Krsna, while smiling and accepting the challenge,
said, “Let the women prepare themselves and come and play with
me.”

245. Then ever active Vrnda Devi made all the arrangements for the
game. She brought the highly attractive, glorious Nandimukhi as her
helper. Radha, as the leader, began to shake the dice.

246. Krsna said, “The game becomes exciting if we first set the
wager. Let us wager my Kaustubha and your necklace as the first
stake.

247. “As a second wager, let it be my flute and your Lalita. O Radha,
shining bright in victory! If I win, I get Lalita. If I am defeated, I will
give you my flute with a smile.”

248. Radha said, “I cannot accept this unequal wager of your flute
and Lalita. Can one ever compare a stick of wood with a jeweled
wand? Please don’t cheat on this matter.”
249. Kalavati then said, “Has the third wager been decided?”
Radha, while laughing at her, said, “You will be my wager and his
necklace will be his wager.”

250. Then one sakhi said, “I will now speak about the fourth wager.
Gaining this wager, both of your bodies will be satisfied and drown in
the ocean of happiness.”

251. Krsna said, “Please speak.” The sakhi said, “O Radha, listen to
my pleasing words. Your stake will be a giving a kiss and his will be
giving a thousand embraces.”

252. Becoming angry, Radha knit her brow and with a flushed
forehead said to her, “O expert one! You can play with Krsna for this
wager.”

253-255. “O Radha, she has spoken nicely. Do not become angry at

the wager. Just consider—your wager is very light and his wager is
very heavy. If you are defeated, you give something insignificant,
and if you win, you gain something very deep. I see that either way,
you gain the most auspicious things. O beautiful faced Radha!
Please sit, play the nice at leisure, and show your talents.” One
sakhi, saying this, grasped Radha’s hand, and while laughing,
expressed her plea.

256. Then Radha seated herself at the board and arranged the
pieces. These pawns, illuminated by the jewels on her rings, glowed
in the nectar of her smile.

257. Moon-faced Radha adroitly took two dice her hands and offered
them to Krsna. In a low but firm voice she said, “You throw first.”

258. Krsna’s hands glowed with the reflections from the dice. Radha
was pleased on seeing this. One clever sakhi spoke to her.

259. “Play, play! Krsna should not win and take your necklace. Being
expert, good at winning, win his Kaustubha jewel and make us
happy.”

260. When Krsna first threw the dice, it was definite that he had won.
To turn it otherwise, Radha took the dice and again passed them to
his hands.

261. Again Krsna threw the dice, and again it was in his favor. He
moved the pawns and Radha’s pride was crushed.

262. As the two experts of gambling played with knowledge of the

way that the dice would roll, neither could be victorious and neither
could be defeated.

263. With intelligence, Radha then admitted defeat and Krsna took
the victory. When he came to take the necklace, Radha herself
offered it to him.

264. Aiming to defeat Krsna, Radha then raised her arm and threw
the dice. Seeing this, Krsna became anxious in heart, fearing
defeat.

265. Defeating him, Radha took the flute as prize and gave it to
Lalita. Lalita hugged it as her own.

266. Krsna again played, won and took the prize of third wager,
Kalavati, filled with excellent qualities.

267. Watching Krsna take her, all the gopis laughed out loud with
joy. Kalavati said, “O beautiful women! Do not laugh! You will see
the cunning of the goddess of gambling!”

268. The sakhis said, “O friend Radha! Kalavati has stated things
correctly. Your mind has not concentrated on the game. The goddess
of dice games will defeat everyone.”

269. Then Vrnda said, “O friend! When you took his beloved flute,
Krsna did not lament even a bit. Rather he radiated a soft smile.
270. “Therefore, O friends! Do not show much pain to get back your
friend. Know that it will be difficult. The wise, endowed with steady
hearts, when defeated justly, do not lament for even a jewel.

271. “If you say that one can easily get another flute in the forest, but
there is no one with qualities like Kalavati to be found on this earth,
then give up the flute. Why should you become so possessive of the
piece of dry bamboo?”

272. Lalita said, “O strict Vrnda! We know that you are always partial
to Krsna. Because of that, you close your eyes in the daylight and
can’t see good from bad.

273. “Being careless, our inattentive friend previously lost an

excellent necklace. And now she has now lost our dear friend.”

274. When wise Lalita said this, Radha, the expert at gambling,
holding the two dice in her hands, threw them in front of Krsna.

275. The gambling match between the two lovers then began in
earnest. Where the master of the game is Cupid, can there be defeat
of love?

276. Now the time had arrived for the fourth wager of the kiss and
embrace. Though she would be embarrassed by his victory, she was
well prepared for her victory.

277. Whatever way she wanted the dice to fall, that way they fell.
And Krsna played with ease, showing his self-confidence.

278-279. Raising both her hands to take her turn at throwing the
dice, as she shook them, with great fervor she uttered “Dasa, dasa”
(ten, ten, or bite bite). But as she said this, one sakhi objected, “O
fierce Radha, you should not utter those words repeatedly. You
should see in front of you there is a black snake (the enjoyer Krsna).
O friend! Previously he has nicely bitten your mind and lips, causing
you pain.”

280-281. Lalita then said, “There is also the snake of our friend’s
eyebrows. She has already destroyed the poisonous all-pervading
influence of that black snake. Now what can that black snake do?”
Hearing Lalita’s words which took revenge on Krsna, the sakhis
broke out in laughter. Glorious Radha however hung her head in
embarrassment.

282. As both were equally intent to win the fourth wager involving the
kiss, neither could enjoy the victory. (or they were not eager to win,
since either way, they would enjoy equally.)

283. Giving up her shyness, Radha then began to play boldly. She
took her turn and made an extra effort to win.

284. Radha played with such intensity that she was able to block
Krsna’s moves completely. Then she raised the wager double to
obstruct him.

285. Being unable to break through the positions, in an attempt to

distract Radha, Krsna, slightly smiling, spoke soft, sweet words to
agitate her.

286. “O beautiful one! You have been very enthusiastic to increase

my wager. Consider it and then say it once without reducing it.”

287. Hearing this, Radha began to think. “Oh! Either way, I will
suffer immeasurable shame. The sakhis will laugh among
themselves and this ocean of quality will laugh also.”

288. As these unthinkable thoughts arose in her mind, Radha,

pretending not to hear his words, laughed heartily and continued to
play attentively.
289. Lotus faced Radha, not looking about, uttered, “Viduh, viduh
(they know, they know)” and shook the dice in her hand as her
bangles jingled.

290. Hearing this, the sakhis said, “See friend! Who has known your
desire in increasing the wager of the kiss? We don’t know anything.
Do not be unhappy. Why are you shouting that they know?”

291. When she heard the teasing words of the sakhis, the red rims of
her eyes began to flutter. Pierced by the crooked words of her lover,
she lost her concentration in the game.

292. Without consideration, as if inspired by the movements of luck,

she broke the sequence of playing and, as a result of her mistake,
destroyed her stranglehold on Krsna’s pawns.

293. Seeing this, Krsna tripled the wager. The sakhis said, “See
there! Don’t be proud. Our dear friend will certainly win!”

294. Radha, desiring victory, played again. She showed great desire
to win, but no desire to enjoy the results.

295. Radha could not defeat Krsna, the very flag of victory over the
world. And Krsna could not defeat Radha, the flag of victory over the
world. It was interesting to note that the only victor was Cupid.

296. The two were expert at all types of arts (at the sacrifice of Cupid
they knew the different hand movements and procedures for placing
and touching the pot). They are both attached to each other’s most
auspicious qualities. They both attained their hearts’ desires.

297. But time had run out! There was no way to continue to play!
Without finishing the game, they were compelled to quit.

298. Seeing the time, doe-eyed Radha returned the flute to Krsna
and, the soul of all, Krsna, returned her necklace. Then all the gopis
along with Vrnda, feeling the pain of separation, returned to their
respective homes.
 Chapter Five
Afternoon and Evening Pastimes
1. Then all the friends felt special happiness on seeing lustrous
Krsna, dark as a rain cloud, served by young, active servants who
were expert in each engagement.

2. That Krsna, filled with friendly love, his body radiating effulgence,
conquering the beauty of millions of Cupids, happily mixed with his
friends.

3. Just as their time together of a few hours seemed like a few

seconds, the time of separation seemed like the duration of a yuga.
That was the particular ornament of friendship.

4. Coming together from all directions, they all gave up their worries
and asked with concern, “O friend! Where have you spent such a
long time? Tell us why you have avoided playing with us.”

5. Hearing these affectionate words and seeing them standing there,

Krsna answered. It was as if bees, intoxicated by the fragrance of
the honey of his lips smeared with the nectar of his smile, were
kissing the flowers of his words.

6.”See, my friends! I have gone to the Yamuna to find relief from the
summer heat. A few young boys with beautiful bodies and skillful at
service accompanied me.

7. “Because it would take a long time for everyone to bathe there, I

did not take you there. And the cows are happily eating the grass
here.

8. “It is time now to return to Vraja. We can no longer play in the

forest. Call the cows back to the sheds and sound the flutes and
horns.”

9. Headed by Balarama, the young cowherds, saturated with

sincere, friendly affection for one another, sounding their flutes,
horns and blades of grass, carefully made their way back to Vraja.

10. “Come here, Savali, Pisangi, Kali, Nila, Harini, Vilohini,

Dhumala, and Susila! We are going home now, so don’t wander off
in the forest.”

11. When they heard the sound of the flute, which blew away the
dust of increasing pride of the women of Vraja, the wandering cows,
mooing, moved near.

12. Overloaded with heavy udders fatter and firmer than the
foreheads of rutting elephants, moving slowly, the attractive cows
forcibly struck their hooves on the earth, but the earth, though struck,
felt great bliss.

13. Their bellies were full from eating the plentiful grass. Their
udders were like full water pots. Their bodies were huge. These were
the cows that made their way back to Vraja.

14. The two young boys, surrounded by their friends, journeyed back
to their houses from the forest. Like two young elephants, one
shining blue and the other white, they spontaneously attracted all the
three worlds.

Separation of the forest dwellers

15. As the black bees fell upon the sweet feet of Krsna, destroyer of
all suffering, thinking they were lotuses, it seemed that Vana-laksmi,
the goddess of the forest, was crying tears mixed with her collyrium.

16. The birds, in the fever of separation from Krsna, began to beat
their bodies with their hand-like wings and in loud voices expressed
their pain, as if weeping.
17. The does, in the sickness of separation from their beloved, with
afflicted bodies, stared in the direction of Krsna as if they had no
eyelids. They remained standing in one place, praying for the
treasure of one more of his glances.

18. When the tails of the peacocks who followed after Krsna fell on
the ground, it seemed that Vana-laksmi’s hair had been loosened in
lamentation and was lying scattered on the earth.

19. Egrets and other water birds began flying here and there looking
for Krsna, choked up with pitiful, tearful voices. They had served
Krsna in every lake.

20. As Krsna and Balarama herded the surabhi cows from the front
and back, and headed towards Vraja, they seemed to defeat two
captains, one black and one silver, steering a gleaming white ship.

21. Because of affection for their calves, the cows sometimes moved
quickly, and because of attraction to Krsna who was proceeding in
front, they slowed down, fatigued from carrying their heavy udders.

22-23. The earth, being anxious to spread the glories of Krsna’s

lotus feet and struck by the hooves of all the cows, spread out piles
of dust all around. It seemed she turned her whole body into dust in
order to come in contact with the bodies of Krsna and the cows.
Where can an intelligent person get the satisfaction of full
happiness?

Krsna decorated with the dust

24. The pure, colorful dust raised by the cows’ hooves carried by the
soft breeze spread over Krsna’s locks of hair like pollen on the
bodies of bees.

25. Krsna wore a white turban decorated with leaves and flowers,
from which his hair burst forth. This was decorated with the dust
raised by the cows’ hooves.

26. The vaijayanti garland on Krsna’s chest became glorious with the
dust from the hooves. It appeared to smile with the beauty of the
flowers and spread its attractive pollen in all directions.

27. The pure, famous Kaustubha jewel, overwhelmed by the dust,

shone even more brilliantly. It seemed that the Kaustubha was trying
to make its fresh, inimitable luster even more pure.

28. The assembly of devatas headed by Brahma and Siva, unknown

to the inhabitants of Vraja, were singing the praises of Krsna, who
had gone to the forest to herd the cows.

29. As Krsna delayed his progress out of bliss on seeing them, it

seemed like a yuga for the anxious gopis.

Approaching Vraja

30. Wherever Krsna glanced, that place seemed to become

showered in mercy and love, and all the desire creepers suddenly
burst into bloom.

31-32. As Krsna slowly advanced in this way along the roads to

Vraja, it seemed that the goddess of beauty of the pink lotuses was
worshiping his feet. The earth was bathed in the effulgence from his
nails. Playing on his elegant flute, intoxicating all the moving and
immobile souls, that ocean of qualities, Syamasundara, with an air of
pride, approached Vraja along with the prideless cowherd boys.

33. First, they saw the dust raised by the cows, then they heard the
commotion, and finally they heard the sound of Krsna’s flute. When
they heard the sound of the mooing, all the women emerged from
their houses and stood on the road.

34. All the love-struck gopis became blissful on seeing the moon-
like face of their beloved. It seemed as if their eyes were breaking a
fast with this tasty sight of Krsna.

35. When the ocean of qualities, controlled by love, glanced at each

gopi, each gopi felt that tonight Krsna would come only to her bower.

36. The eyes of other love-happy women standing on jeweled

rooftops were like bees attracted to the lotus face of their lover.

37. The glances of the lotus eyed gopis, fixed on the lotus face of
Krsna, appeared like a shower of blue lotus petals piling up one over
the other.

38. The indescribable sweetness that arose from the happiness of

his face struck by the gopis’ glances was understood by Krsna. It
was understood by the gopis, and by Cupid.

39. Though the bee-like glances of the gopis, like subtle arrows,
were irresistible, the arrow of Krsna’s counter glance broke their
arrows in midair. But still the tips of their arrows pierced his chest.

40. The exchange of mutually seeing one another increased the

sweetness of their love. Though they gave up these actions for a
short while out of fear of their elders, the cheerful love did not
dissipate.

Passing through Vraja

41. As Krsna entered Vraja blissfully in this way, the young children
and their elders approached him.

42-43. Krsna glanced at each of the children and paid respects to

each of the elders. And to each of the servant women who had more
affection for Krsna than for their own children, Krsna paid his
respects. Attracting all with his soft smile, he arrived at the center of
Vraja.
44. Waiting for the time of his arrival, Yasoda, with emotional heart
and motherly affection, stood in the courtyard, staring for a long time
at the road on which he would approach.

45. After putting the cows into their proper sheds, the beautiful
Syamasundara, along with the servants and Balarama, approached
and paid respects to Mother Yasoda.

46. Milk spontaneously flowed from her breasts and soaked her
cloth. With her two creeper-like arms she embraced Krsna and
Balarama.

47. “O my sons and all your friends! Now go to your own houses.”
Sending off the boys in this way, Mother Yasoda entered the house
with her two sons.

Evening pastimes

48. Yasoda remained for some time in the yard, carefully giving
instructions to the young servants who were devoted to serving
Krsna.

49. One servant took Krsna’s horn, flute, and stick with great
satisfaction. Another took off his garland, and another fortunate
servant removed his ornaments.

50. One servant took off his turban and his belt and brushed the dust
from his limbs.

51. Another servant blissfully wiped his face and feet with a piece of
cloth and cleaned his hair with a comb.

52. Skillful, devoted servants, while softly smiling, gently massaged

his limbs from head to foot with scented, colorful, matured oils.

53. Another servant, knowledgeable of loving affairs, anointed his

body with the liquid pulp of sandalwood, kumkuma and strong
camphor.

54. One servant scrubbed his hair with fragrant amalaki juice and
bathed him in water scented with sandalwood.

55. Then one kind servant dried each of his limbs with pieces of soft,
white cloth, and dried his hair by wringing it out, using a damp cloth.

56. Removing his damp cloth, another servant dressed him in a soft
yellow dhoti and offered an attractive yellow upper cloth to his broad
chest.

57. Completely drying his hair and combing it, another servant
offered him a fine, small, white turban.

58. One servant drew the finest tilaka of sandalwood mixed with
scents on his forehead and smeared a thin ointment of hari-candana
mixed with camphor on his body.

59. Someone dressed his graceful limbs with jewel ornaments

befitting the time, and put gem studded gold ribbons on his washed
feet.

60. Offering his left hand to the right hand of dear friend, he then
slowly entered the house and, taking off his jeweled slippers, offered
his respects to his father Nanda with humility and affection.

61. With deep affection, Nanda embraced him and smelled his head.
Sitting down, he gave permission to Krsna to sit. Krsna then sat in
the best of seats.

62. Balarama also, being served for a long time by his personal
assistants, made his appearance and offered respects to Nanda.
Nanda embraced him affectionately and became blissful.

The Second Meal

63. Rohini, the cook for the second meal for Nanda’s two sons,
came forward and said to Mother Yasoda, “The cooking is ready.”

64. Taking the cue from Yasoda, the enlivened young servant girls
placed jugs, plates and jeweled seats in the proper place with great
cheer.

65. Nanda, washing his lotus feet, sat on a high seat. Krsna and
Balarama also sat. Rohini began to serve with intense affection.

66-67. First to the brahmanas who ate there daily, next to Nanda,
then to Balarama and then to Krsna, and finally to Krsna’s friends,
Rohini served all the digestible, pure, sweet, evening dishes.

68. In the presence of Nanda, Krsna, Balarama and his friends did
not speak loudly, nor did they laugh recklessly.

69. Noticing this, Yasoda said, “Oh! They don’t feel comfortable
eating in front of their father.”

70. In this way they finished eating with their father and their father
felt satisfaction in his heart.

71. Then servants brought in gold pots filled with cool, fragrant
water and Nanda, Krsna, Balarama and their friends performed
acamana.

72. As their clothing and ornaments had become disarrayed, they

exchanged them for others, and carefully washed their feet.

73. Krsna then took some mouth freshener and smiling softly but
sweetly, offered obeisance to his father and mother and went into the
outer yard.

Entering the Cowshed

74. A million moons were put to shame by the beauty of his face.
His assistants began singing his glorious qualities as he put on his
jeweled sandals.

75 Putting his left arm on the shoulder of a friend and receiving in

his right hand attractive tambula offered by a friend, while chewing
and chewing, he entered the cowsheds.

76. With eyes like blossoming night lotuses, with the ornament of
the sun, Laksmi in the form of evening quickly approached and
began to serve Krsna with the greatest attachment.

77-79. From all directions birds flew to their nests. Each house lit
lamps. The directions, without rays of light, turned grey. The calves
began to call from all directions. The time for milking the cows a
second time approached in the village of Gokula, beyond material
illusion. As Krsna neared the cowsheds, as the cows let loose a
chorus of mooing, and the lamp light flickered, it seemed that they
were performing ulu-dhvani as aratrika was being performed to
welcome him.

80. Like a woman desiring greedily to see Hari, the eastern

direction made the moon rise. Colored crimson, full of desire, it
spread its rays upwards.

81. Like the face of the eastern direction, which was holding desire
for a long time, the moon rose up and extinguished the darkness
which spread out like a covering garment in all directions.

82. If not for their black hooves and horns, there would be doubt
about the herd of cows which shone like the moon and the moon
which shone like a crystal mountain range. One could mistake the
herd of cows for moon light and the moon light for the herd of cows.

83. The great bulls, like pieces of rock from Kailasa Mountain, like
sages, slept happily without inconvenience, wherever they found
themselves when night fell.
84. In the yard of the cow shed, constructed of huge pillars of
crystal, the ocean of bliss, Krsna, wearing his jeweled sandals,
derived great pleasure in looking at the beauty of the sheds.

85. Krsna became blissful as the cows clamored all at once during
the milking, sounding like the groaning of an empty stomach.

86. Playfully raising his cloth and placing a pail near his knee, he
began milking the cows with his tender hands.

87. With the touch of Krsna’s sweet hand and sight of his moon-like
face, the cows with ease released their milk.

Going to the bedroom

88. Spending the early evening enjoyably in this way, Krsna then
paid respects to his mother and father according to the rules, with
affection, embraces and reverence. They permitted him to retire to
bed.

89. Krsna’s living quarters were right next to Nanda’s. Being made
of gold and jewels, they were attractive and pleasurable. On all sides
were small gardens and in the center was a bedroom and other
rooms.

90. The gardens were filled with fresh creepers, trees and flowering
bowers. On the lakes with jeweled banks, swans sported and
warbling cuckoos were its crown and earrings.

91-92. The women, with flower petal crowns and pearl armlets,
anointed with sandalwood and kumkuma, wearing shining cloth,
ivory earrings, nourishing the moonlight with the glitter of their teeth
when they smiled, anxious for their upcoming meeting with Krsna,
would meet the Lord in this garden in the bright moonlight in the
pleasure-giving night.
93-97. In that place was Krsna’s bedroom. It was washed, dried, and
scented and cooled with krsna-aguru incense by young obedient
servant girls. It was splendorous and pleasing to the eye because of
decorations made from perfumed flower garlands, with jeweled pots
topped by colorful flags. It was made pleasurable by objects carved
from spotless ivory. It was equipped with soft sheets, white as milk
foam, beautiful pillows, and a golden bed inlaid with jewels which
was furnished with posts made of moonstone. When the moonlight
shone through the window, it appeared like a thousand drifting
clouds. In jeweled cages there were beautiful parrots.

98. Desiring to sleep, Krsna entered this most excellent, attractive

apartment accompanied by male and female servants.
 Chapter Six
Night and Late Night Pastimes
1. Krsna, flanked on either side by young boys and girls acting as
servants, went to the veranda of the sleeping room. Seeing the
incomparable sweetness which spread through the area, he thought
it a place suitable for his pastimes.

2. Krsna remained there for some time on the veranda. He put on a

night dress given by the young servants and sprinkled water on his
face and feet. Wearing his jeweled shoes he entered the bedroom.

3. As he was sitting on a jeweled cushion on a gem studded cot in

the bedroom Mother Yasoda came before him with a few servants.

4. Out of motherly affection, milk was flowing from her breasts.

Smiling slightly, she brought some milk rice and said to him, “O child!
The night is very long. Eat this milk rice and then go to sleep. That
way you won’t suffer from hunger pangs during the night.”

5. Krsna answered, “O fortunate mother! Though I don’t have any

hunger at all, according to your instruction this meal will be beneficial
for me. Now you can go to your room.” Hearing this from her son,
she said to lotus eyed Krsna, “I will go, but you should eat the milk
rice while I am here.”

6. Saying this, Mother Yasoda seated herself on an attractive seat

and Krsna ate the milk rice to satisfy his mother. Washing his mouth
and taking tambula, he offered respects to her feet. Yasoda
embraced him with affection and then quickly went to her room to
satisfy Krsna.

7. Sitting on the cot ornamented with new sheets as white as the

foam from the churned Milk Ocean, he placed his left arm on a fat,
round bolster. What incomparable splendor it created!

8. The parrots mistook the beams of moonlight shining through

cracks in the window to be a jewel rod. Again and again they
approached it for perching, to the amusement of Krsna.

9. When the small children began loudly laughing at the parrots,

Krsna, though trying to be serious, could contain himself no longer.
Taking the tambula offered by dear servants, he ate that and went to
bed in expectation of the night pastimes.

10. As some servants sprinkled fragrant powder everywhere, others

smoked the room with aguru incense, and others waved camaras
white as the moon. Some dear servants began massaging his lotus
feet.

11. When Krsna fell asleep, all the servants also fell asleep here and
there around the room. The goddess of sleep made their sleep
gradually deeper and deeper. But she slackened the sleep of Krsna
for his night pastimes.

Meeting with the gopis

12. The lotus eyed gopis are the eternal consorts of Krsna. Their
attachment to other cowherd men as their husbands is only
apparent. Yogamaya made false bodies for the gopis and put their
relatives under illusion so that they could meet Krsna during the
night.

13. The gopis spent the first part of the night in their own homes.
Afflicted by the evil planet of Krsna prema, they lost regard for
principles like shyness and control. Taking the assistance of the
incomparably strong Yogamaya, they overcame all obstacles and
prepared to meet Krsna.

14-15. They wore networks of pearls for armlets, belts, and

necklaces, spotless cloth shining like the moon light and earrings of
ivory. Their complexions were tinged with sandalwood cosmetics and
malli garlands scented their hair. The luster of their eyes and
eyebrows were covered by cloth with veils which extended without
restriction down to their swanlike feet. One could not distinguish
between their luster and that of the camphor dust sprinkled on the
path.

16. Though in eagerness they wanted to go there quickly, because of

their wide hips and tiredness, their feet proceeded at a slow pace.
Thinking the moon rays to be a garden of silver creepers, they
extended their hands to take the creepers’ support to relieve
themselves of fatigue.

17. Sometimes their legs became paralyzed out of separation from

Krsna and sometimes their bodies trembled out of expectation of
pastimes with Krsna. Longing to see Krsna again, they shed tears of
joy and lost their way on the path. Thinking of Krsna’s touch, their
bodies erupted in goose bumps. In this way, going for an
appointment with Krsna in the moonlight, there was a shower of
smiles.

18. With their bodies shining in the moonlight, they seemed to be

wearing the moonlight as their garments as they approached their
meeting with Krsna. When they lost their way on the path due to the
confusion of their own effulgence with that of the moon’s, their
confidential servants had to show the way.

19. Slowed down by the heaviness of her hips, Radha took support
of her dearest companion’s hand and moved slowly towards the
abode of her beloved. But she became tired, her body became
covered with perspiration, and she lamented the great distance to
the destination.

20. Thinking it extra weight, she discarded her belt made of lotuses
from her waist. Quickly she threw away her anklets made of kunda
flowers. As she walked down the path, she then discarded her white
play lotuses, and threw away hair ornaments made of mallika and
karavira flowers.

Meeting with Krsna

21. After napping for a while, Krsna got up and began to play his
beautiful flute. The sound of flute, acting like a messenger,
affectionately urged her to hasten to him. With that messenger’s
help, Radha, blocking lover’s pride, hurried towards her destination.

22. Wherever that skillful flute song, messenger of love, appeared,

there Radha hastily proceeded. She was urged by her friend called
eagerness with the words, “Go, go” and the messenger held her
completely under a spell.

23. The presiding deity of the gardens near Krsna’s bedroom was
the beautiful, exalted Vrnda. Knowing when Radha would arrive and
knowing that the time for the night pastimes of the beloved had
arrived, she arrived there with the desire to assist in their pastimes.

24. Krsna then proceed to the forest garden, purified by the rays of
the moon, where he would perform his sweet pastimes with Radha
and other gopis with arrangements made by Vrnda and other forest
deities.

25. Krsna, who was sitting comfortably on a beautiful seat, purified

by the moon light, on a jeweled platform situated near that best of
groves, sent Vrnda to receive Radha, who had just arrived with the
sakhis, and to bring her closer.

26. Going out quickly, Vrnda saw at the entrance a fast moving,
effulgent creeper. Meeting that garden creeper in the form of Radha
with joy, in spreading out their mutual effulgence they produced a
most attractive excellence.

27. Seeing Krsna, as if he had just emerged from her heart and was
appearing externally, Radha, without reservation, realized that she
had finally attained Krsna, who had affection for her. Then she
considered, “Where am I? Where did I come from? How and why
did I arrive here? What was my path?”

28. On seeing Krsna she became overcome, overshadowed by the

planet of Krsna’s bliss. As a snake enchanted by mantra subdues
poison, being glanced at by him, she returned his glances.

29. On seeing him, his garden and the night by the moonlight, on
seeing the beauty of the pavilions decorated with creepers, her body,
being attracted to these things, became relieved of its fever and,
though giving up the house of her elders, she became joyful in mind.
She praised the arrangements.

30. Vrnda perceived that the tender bodied gopis had become tired
from their journey. Placing them each at a door to a madhavi
blossom pavilion, she gave orders to the each of the creepers to fan
them with their fresh shoots. The creepers, following her order, felt
themselves fully satisfied as they fanned the gopis.

31. Until the gopis recovered from their fatigue, Krsna performed
appropriate preliminary actions. With his graceful flute in his hand,
he moved close to the gopis and with his own cloth began to fan
them. With that, the gopis became completely embarrassed.

Night pastimes

32. Then the crown jewel of rasa took the hand of Radha, whose
obstacles had all vanished, and showed her the beauty of the
groves. Stopping here and there on jeweled platforms under the
bases of freshly leafed trees, he spread out the best of seats with his
own hands and sat with her.

33. Wandering in the groves with slow footsteps, gazing repeatedly

upon the splendor of the forests resounding with bees, he made the
beauty of the moonlight double with the waves of light from his
teeth. Smiling, he spoke to doe-eyed Radha in soft sweet words.
34. “O dear one! See, out of joy on seeing the beauty of your
movements, the deer have given up sleep and have gathered in
groups under the trees and creepers. The flocks of birds in these
branches cannot sleep though it is night, out of the enjoyment of
seeing your pastimes.

35. “See, these shiny creepers are eager to serve your limbs with
their leaves and flowers like your own servants. These groves,
much more auspicious than your house, are constantly served by the
mad, humming bees.

36. “Gaze upon the pure shadows with tiny eyes of moonlight among
all these even, rounded branches. In order to purify the beauty of
the forest at your arrival, it seems that all the breezes are move
about here and there like a sieve.”

37. Krsna, the ocean of bliss, knowledgeable of the deepest and

highest love, while speaking very gentle words, walked about with
doe-eyed Radha until they came again to the madhavi pavilion. At
this place, the amusing events of the group during the festival of
drinking liquor would take place.

Pastime of drinking liquor

38. At this place, Vrnda prepared all the ingredients for the drinking
pastimes with bliss, placing attractive silk cloth, shining like the
moon, on a sweet platform made of cat’s eye gems, and placed on
the cloth crystal drinking cups.

39. To that place, she brought crystal pots full of honey liquor, which
blinded the bees with their aroma, along with drinking snacks. She
covered them with silk cloth. The necks of the vessels were
embraced by huge garlands of fragrant flowers. They appeared like
treasure pots for love’s pastimes.
40. Arriving there in the middle of all the blissful women, Krsna
gazed at all the creations of Vrnda, who was capable of making his
desires come true. With everyone’s agreement, holding her hand,
he carefully took his seat on a jewel slab along with Radha.

41. With Krsna’s consent, the gopis sat in a row at the edge,
spreading their bodily beauty everywhere. It seemed as if the
moonlight was acting as a bangle around the forms of the beautiful
women.

42. Krsna, along with Radha, surrounded by the dear assistants,

appeared like a dark, shining cloud ornamented with lightening and
circled with a lattice of moonlight. Today he would distribute
pleasure with the fresh vigor of the drinking festival.

43. One by one, all the vyabhicari-bhavas, headed by shyness,

eagerness, remembrance, thoughtfulness, steadiness, tolerance
jubilation, envy, worry, fear, fatigue and madness, along with their
assistants, arrived to serve the youthful couple at the appropriate
time.

44. When Radha and Krsna sat on their elegant seat, the gopis sat
in front of them. Vrnda put garlands that she had personally threaded
with various incomparable flowers around their necks. The aroma of
the garlands made the bees unsteady.

45. Vrnda smoked the place with incense of black aguru mixed with
piles of powdered camphor. When the honey drinking festival
began, the trees designated by Vrnda showered flowers.

46. The bees, sticking their sharp goad-like heads into the malli
flowers, buzzed deeply like the sounding of conches. The flowering
creepers in groups began dancing about, having been taught from
childhood by their teacher, the breeze.

47. The shining crystal goblets competed with the moon in such a
way that when Vrnda began filling them with honey, she could not
see clearly. For a moment a doubt crossed her mind. “Did I really fill
the goblet with honey or not? Did I pour the honey on the ground? I
cannot understand.”

48. When she filled two new sparkling crystal goblets with honey,
she saw that the bees were circling around them. While waving a
blue lotus over the goblets with her left hand to drive away the bees,
she offered the glasses to Radha and Syama.

49. While the sweet honey was being distributed to each of the
sakhis participating in the drinking party, each effusing a divine halo,
Radha and Krsna shooed away the bees hovering over their honey
glasses while they waited for Vrnda to return.

50. When the honey was fully distributed in all the cups, Krsna took
his glass and putting it near the lotus face of Radha said, “You drink
and then give to me.” Not touching it, she smelled it with a bowed
head, as if giving some instruction in the science of love making, and
then offered it to Krsna.

51. Having smelled the aroma of lotus faced Radha, as he began to

slowly drink the honey, he began thinking. After thinking for a long
time, with a laugh, again he drank with great joviality.

52. As if reading the most confidential book on prema, Radha,

smiling but bending her head in shyness, desired to drink the sweet
honey from Krsna’s cup. She had no desire to drink from her own
cup. The slayer of Agha knew this. While smiling sweetly, he
consented affectionately and offered her the nectar that had touched
his lips. He said, “Please drink.”

53. After drinking this, she then took her own glass and began
drinking. Then Krsna took the glass and began drinking. Seeing
this, the sakhis, while smiling, said, “Oh, such actions are not
astonishing when there is such intense love.”
54. Vrnda again poured another glass of honey and brought it
before Radha and Krsna with bliss. Drinking a little, they gave the
rest to the sakhis. The sakhis, each drinking a little, then drank from
their own glasses.

55. In this way, when the first round of drinking of Radha, Krsna and
the gopis was completed, they became internally jolly and began to
manifest certain changes. These changes which knew no limit made
their appearance with certain symptoms such as reddening of the
eyes.

56. With the first drink, some sakhis became completely satisfied in
their desires and, though constantly requesting, did not want to drink
again. They wanted to see the wonder of the intoxication pastimes
of Krsna and the gopis.

57. There were symptoms such as inappropriate shame,

unnecessary weeping, quarreling without cause, baseless fear,
uncalled for agony, speaking without a listener, and seeing without
an object. In the drinking party, a variety of auspicious actions of the
gopis could be seen.

58. They then showed symptoms such as fumbling speech,

stuttering, unsteadiness, constantly squinting of the eyes, quivering
of the body, loss of discrimination, laughing unreasonably, anger,
satisfaction, torpor, and silence.

59. One gopi, not able to see her crystal goblet because of the
moonlight, thought that Vrnda had not given her any honey and thus
displayed anger, pride, laughter, unsteadiness, detachment and
worry. Another gopi became proud and refused to drink.

60. One sakhi said, “See friends! The moon has entered this glass.
So how can I drink this liquor? Oh, if I chew on that thing, I will have
trouble. And being touched by the moon’s spots, this glass of honey
has become foul smelling. I feel it is completely wrong to drink this
liquor.”
61. Another gopi, seeing the shadow of a swarm of bees that was
passing overhead, thought that it was some contamination in the
drink and, bending her finger, stirred it around in the liquid and
strained the liquid through a cloth. She then heartily drank it again
and again.

62. “O this is disastrous! The sky is f-f-falling. The e-e-arth is m-m-

m-moving. O friends! H-h-h-old me up. I am falling over.” In this
way, another drunk sakhi embraced another sakhi and said in a
sweet voice, “O friend, because I am healthy, I will live a long time.”

63. During the transformations due to drinking honey liquor, the state
of identifying oneself as the lover which occurred previously during
separation made its appearance. Krsna acted as Radha and Radha
acted as Krsna. They addressed each other with soft laughter.

64. Radha said to Krsna, “O Radha! “ Krsna replied, “O Krsna!”

Radha said, “Are you my servant? No, you are my life. Without you I
cannot sustain my body.” As they reversed their roles and names for
a few moments, their exchange of loving words became attractive.

65. Radha and Krsna whispered in each other’s ears soft,

meaningless sentences. While laughing, they began to stumble and
roll about and kiss each other on the cheeks. There was no tiring in
tasting these pleasing pastimes.

Looking for the Kaustubha and finding it

66. Krsna’s Kaustubha got hidden behind him and seemed to

disappear. Radha, not seeing the jewel, became fearful and, trying
to be helpful, said, “Oh! Where has your Kaustubha gone?” Krsna
said, “You stole it.” She said, “I did not, Visakha did.” Visakha said, “I
didn’t steal it. Lalita did.” Lalita said, “I didn’t do it. Indulekha stole it.”

67. When the gopis, in a drunken state, began to quarrel, one other
gopi spoke to Krsna, intending to praise him. “Cheater! This
vaijayanti garland, wanting to have your heart all to itself, being
crafty, stole the jewel away.

68. “I know! O tricky garland! You stole the Kaustubha. You should
be punished! O thief, please give that jewel back.” Saying this, and
taking the garland and beating it, the Kaustubha then appeared in
front of them. Seeing the Kaustubha again on his neck, suddenly
joining the garland, everyone laughed.

69. The doe-eyed gopis got submerged in the strong eddies in the
current of the sweet, unfathomable drinking pastimes. Some began
singing in sweet voices. Others illustrated the songs with dances. In
this way all these women made Cupid successful with their kissing
and embracing.

Sleeping pastimes after exhaustion from drinking

70. When the gopis felt tired in the waves of drinking, the goddess
of sleep, skillful at opening and closing eyes, appeared. The women
lay down on individual flower beds in the various groves, while
Radha and Krsna slept on one bed made by Vrnda.

71. As they remained there slightly affected by the subjugating

intoxication of the liquor, the famous and overpowering intoxication
through love then arrived. With the mixture of the two intoxications of
liquor and love, an even greater sweetness arose among the group
of women--a sweetness which is worshipped by Brahma and other
devas and revealed in the Vedas. It was relished by the most
worshipable gopis, but not by others.

72-73. According to the instruction of the sakhis who saw the

astonishing interchange of pastimes of Radha and Madhava
intoxicated with liquor in the night, Sivananda Sena’s son,
Paramananda dasa, knowing that this intoxication pastime is the
highest, ends the work at this point.
74. Kavi-karnapura the acarya of rasa, the son of Sivananda Sena
of the Ambastha lineage, who received the mercy of Gauranga on
this earth and used to see the Lord constantly with the devotees, has
written this sweet poetic work called Krsnahnika Kaumudi, describing
the daily pastimes of Radha and Krsna.