Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (Clever Krishna)
by Srila Rupa Goswami
Act Three: Radha-sanga
The Meeting With Radha
TEXT 1 (a)
(tatah pravisati lalitayanugamyamana paurnamasi).
paurnamasi: vatse, nunam mattas trapamano nabhinandati nanda-kumaras te sakhi-sangamam.
lalita: bha-avadi, dubboham kkhu lo-ottaranam cittam na jhatti vi-asadi.
paurnamasi: (puro ‘valokya) vatse, pasya kadamba-vatikayam madhumangalena sardham samangalam vardhate madhu-mardhanah.
(Followed by Lalita, Paurnamasi enters).
Paurnamasi: Child, it is because of me that embarrassed Krishna does not welcome your friend’s company.
Lalita: Noble lady, the inscrutable hearts of great souls are not at once revealed.
Paurnamasi: (looking ahead) Child, look. There in that kadamba grove Krishna is very happy with Madhumangala.
TEXT 1 (b)
(punar nirupya).
paramrishtangushtha-trayam asita-ratnair ubhayato
vahanti sankirnau manibhir arunais tat parisarau
tayor madhye hirojjvala-vimala-jambunada-mayi
kare kalyaniyam viharati hareh keli-murali
(Looking at Krishna again)
The flute of Krishna’s pastimes measures three fingers in length, and it is bedecked with indranila gems. At the ends of the flute are aruna gems [rubies], glittering beautifully, and between its ends the flute is plated with gold set ablaze by diamonds. This auspicious flute, pleasing to Krishna, is glittering in His hand with transcendental brilliance.*
TEXT 2
(tatah pravisati yatha-nirdishtah krishnah).
krishnah: (sanutapam)
trapaya nitaram parah-mukhi
sahasa smera-sakhi-dhritancala
gamitadya hatena radhika
na katham hanta maya bhujantaram
(As described, Krishna enters.)
Krishna: (regretful) The edge of Her garment held by a smiling friend, embarrassed Radha is now averse to Me. Alas, will Radha never be tightly held in My arms?
TEXT 3 (a)
(nihsvasya) sakhe madhumangala, khanjarita-drishah sa vilasa-manjari corayati me citta-cancarikam.
(sighs) Friend Madhumangala, the blossoming flower of khanjana-eyed Radha’s pastimes has kidnapped the bumblebee of My heart.
TEXT 3 (b)
(ity autsukyam natayan).
chinnah priyo mani-sarah sakhi mauktikani
vrittany aham vicinuyam iti kaitavena
mugdham vivritya mayi hanta drig-anta-bhangim
radha guror api purah pranayad vyatanit
(With longing) Radha once said the following words: “O friend, my favorite pearl necklace has broken, and now I must search for the scattered pearls”. Using this trick, she affectionately glanced at Me from the corner of her charmingly bewildered beautiful eyes, even in the presence of her elders.
TEXT 4
paurnamasi: (durata eva krishnam nirvarnya. sasankam).
akshnor dvandvam prasarati darodghurna-taram murareh
svasah klptam kila vicakilair malikam mlapayanti
keyam dhanya vasati ramani gokule kshipram etam
nitas tivram ayam api yaya kam api dhyana-nishtham
Paurnamasi: (Sees Krishna from a distance, and says apprehensively) Krishna’s agitated eyes move to an fro, and His sighs wilt His jasmine garland. Who is the fortunate beautiful girl that makes Him always think of Her?
TEXT 5 (a)
athava kritam sandehena. vatsah radhikaiva khalv atra karanam
krishnah: (Paurnamasi pasyann upasritya.) bhagavati, pranamami.
paurnamasi: nagara, gopi-stana-tatishv alampati-bhava.
How can there be any doubt? Children, Radha is the cause of this.
Krishna: (seeing Paurnamasi, He approaches.) Noble lady, I offer respects to you.
Paurnamasi: Lover, I bless You that You will not lust after the gopis’ breasts.
Note: If Paurnamasi’s ambiguous statment “alampati-bhava” is divided “alam pati-bhava”, it means “I bless You that You will become like a bodice tightly embracing the gopis’ breasts”.
TEXT 5 (b)
krishnah: (kincid vihasya) kritam pishta-peshinibhir asirbhir yad aham eva gopiti prasiddham syamam vallim api na pahi-pallavena sprisami.
madhumangala: (vihasya) bhoh, kim amhanam sama-e, guari jjevva maggijja-i.
Krishna: (slightly laughing) Please don’t give Me these useless benedictions. With the budding twig of My hand I have not even so much as touched the dark vine that is this famous gopi.
Madhumangala: (laughing) Master, we are looking for a golden vine. What is a dark vine to Us?
TEXT 5 (c)
paurnamasi: (sa-narma-smitam)
gopesvarasya tanayo ‘si nayopapannah
khyatas tatha vraja-kule bhujayor balena
lila-satais tad api kim kulayoshitas tvam
unmadam udvahasi madhava radhikayah
Paurnamasi: (with a playful, joking smile) Krishna, You are the saintly son of the gopas’ king, and Your hundreds of pastimes and the power of Your arms are all well known in Vraja. Why do You trouble this saintly girl Radha?
TEXT 6
madhumangalah: a-i vivarida-vadini buddhi-e, cittha cittha.
tujjha rahi-a-e jjebba eso amha pi-a-vaasso ummadi-o
jam sehara-singa-vetta-i danim kahim vibhatta-im ti na janadi
Madhumangala: Contrary old lady, stop! Stop! It is my dear friend is troubled by your Radha, so troubled that He does not know where He lost His crown, buffalo horn, stick, and other things.
TEXT 7 (a)
krishnah: (salajjam) arye, vacato ‘yam batur mrisha jalpati. kintu niscitam te vyaharami. na tasu mac-citta-ragas tvad-gopishu. tad atra tattvatah priccyatam ayam.
Krishna: (embarrassed) Noble lady, this talkative boy is lying. I will tell you the truth. My heart does not love your gopis. Ask Madhumangala.
TEXT 7 (b)
madhumangalah: ajje saccam saccam. amha-p-ia-vaassa-hi-a-assa ajjavi ra-o tumha-go-i-anam angesu na ma-e ditthotthi. patthuda tanam angara-o jjebba imassa hi-aye disa-i.
Madhumangala: Noble lady, it’s true! It’s true! I never saw Your gopis’ limbs anointed with kunkuma from over My dear friend’s heart. On the contrary, it is the gopis’ kunkuma that is placed over His heart.
Note: Here Krishna says, “The love (raga) of My heart (citta) does not rest in the gopis”. Interpreting the word “raga” to mean “kunkuma”, Madhumangala affirms that the kunkuma (raga) from over Krishna’s heart never rests on the gopis’ bodies.
TEXT 7 (c)
krishnah: (sa-pranaya-rosham) dhin murkha, visrabhad adrito ‘pi jimhatam na jahasi.
Krishna: (affectionately angry) Fool, you are pathetic! Though you are My close friend, you will not stop lying.
TEXT 7 (d)
paurnamasi: satyam aha batuh. tatha hi.
kamam sad-guna-mandalasrayataya tanvan mahishtham rucim
vaicitri-bhara-bhak sada subha-dasa-sreni-sriyam aspadam
vamsi-hunkriti-lilaya sithilatam eni drisam niyate
vasah kamsa-nishudanadya bhavata deheshu geheshv api
Paurnamasi: The boy tells the truth. You are full of splendor and greatness. You are the resting place of the circle of spiritual virtues. You are full of all wonders. You are the home of all auspiciousness and all splendid handsomeness. O Krishna, when You play the flute, Your music loosens the garments of the doe-eyed gopis, even while they stay in their homes.
TEXT 8 (a)
madhumangalah: ajje kim vi janasi jam vamsi-humkidi-lila-etti bhanasi. dittham tahim di-ahe kanna-anam tiraththi-da-im mabara-im appano hatthena ukkhivi-a imina kkhandhe nikkhitta-im.
Madhumangala: Noble lady, you have only told af His flute-playing pastimes. He did many other things you don’t know. This very day I saw Him take the garments of many girls from the Yamuna’s shore and with His own hand throw over His shoulder.
TEXT 8 (b)
krishnah: (sa-bhru-bhangam batum avarya). arye, nunkarad api tatha-bhavad bhavad-gopinam abhivyaktah sadhvi-bhava-prabhavah.
Krishna: (Knitting His eyebrows, He checks Madhumangala.) Noble lady, even though the sound of My flute is charming like that, your gopis remain gloriously chaste.
TEXT 8 (c)
lalita: (sanskritena)
kenapi dhurta-patina khalu sikshito ‘si
mantram vasi-karana-karanam aushadham va
punyojjvalany akhila-gopa-vilasininam
yena tvaya griha-sukhani vilunthitani
Lalita: (in Sanskrit) Some king of rogues must have given You some mantra or potion that brings others under Your control. That is how You broke into pieces the sacred, splendid household happiness of the gopas’ playful wives.
TEXT 9 (a)
madhumangalah: saccam kahedi lalida. annadha mantadim antarena pavvaduttunga maha-dana-a navindivarad ovi somma-si-ala-pa-idina kadham imina samharijjanti.
Madhumangala: Lalita speaks the truth. Without the ability to chant powerful mantras, how could Krishna, by nature more mild and cooling than a fresh lotus flower, embarrass so many demons who are tall like great mountains?
TEXT 9 (b)
lalita: ajja, jassa sumaranam vi tatha santavanam tam edam appano vaassam ma kkhu si-alam bhana.
Lalita: O gentle one, remembering Him makes us burn like fire. Please don’t tell us how cooling your friend is.
TEXT 9 (c)
madhumangalah: bho vaassa, pa-idi-si-alo vi tumam go-i-ahim unhotti bhanijjasi. ta ppamsi-a janissam. (iti krsna-vakshasi hastam nyasya sasambhramam.) aho, saccam jjevva kahedi lalida. (ksanam vimrisya). lalide, vinnadam vinnadam. tu-a ra-a cce-a nunam unna ja-e hi-a-vatthini-e canda-kodi-si-alo vi esa unni-kido.
Madhumangala: Friend, although You are cooling, the gopis say You are very hot. By touching You, I will see is this is true. (Madhumangala respectfully places his hand on Krishna’s chest). Aha! Lalita speaks the truth. (Madhumangala reflects for a moment). Lalita, I understand. I understand. Your Radha is hot. Entering His heart, She has has made Krishna, who is more cooling as millions of moons, hot also.
TEXT 9 (d)
lalita: ajja, ettha ra-a-patta-patthara-hi-a-e ta-e duranta-pemma-saukumajjahada-e maha-sahi-e kudo paveso sambhavi-adi.
Lalita: Saintly brahmana, how could my friend, Her delicate nature overwhelmed with limitless love, enter Your friend’s heart, which is hard like diamond?
TEXT 9 (e)
madhumangalah: (sarosham) cavale, amha-vaasso tado vi tumha-sahido nibbharam sineha-komalo jam eso vancida-nindo jo-indo vi-a ekkagga-citto nam jjevva savvada cinte-i.
Madhumangala: (angry) Fickle girl, my friend is overcome with love for your friend. Cheating sleep, like the king of yogis He always meditates on Her.
TEXT 9 (f)
krishnah: (sapatrapam) dhig balisa, kritam alikena narma-punjena.
lalita: (svagatam) ditthi-a vaddhadi pi-a-sahi.
paurnamasi: sundara, visramyatu narma-mudra. akarnaya mad-vivakshitam.
Krishna: (Turning His face away with embarrassment) Fool, stop these lying jokes.
Lalita: (aside) My dear friend is fortunate.
Paurnamasi: Handsome boy, stop these jokes. Hear what I say.
TEXT 9 (g)
hitva dure pathi dhava-taror antikam dharma-setor
bhangodagra guru-sikharinam ramhasa langhayanti
lebhe-krishnarnava nava-rasa radhika-vahini tvam
vag-vicibhih kim iva vimukhi-bhavam asyas tanoshi
O Lord Krishna, You are just like an ocean. The river of Srimati Radharani has reached You from a long distance, leaving far behind the tree of Her husband, breaking through the bridge of social convention, and forcibly crossing the hills of elder relatives. Coming here because of fresh feelings of love for You, that river has now received Your shelter, but now You are trying to turn Her back by the waves of unfavorable words. How is it that You are spreading this attitude?*
TEXT 10 (a)
madhumangalah: a-i suddha-buddhi-e ajjavi edam cce-a pucchasi. pekkha ku-atanam hada-kokilanam vittasanattham ma-e edam puppha-kodandam nimmidam.
Madhumangala: O Paurnamasi, your intelligence is pure. Why do you ask such a question? Look! I have made a bow of flowers to frighten away those horrible cuckoo birds.
TEXT 10 (b)
paurnamasi: candranana, sapi vatsa.
alinam pratihara-rodhana-vidhau vikshya prayathavalim
bala pratihara-madhavi-parimala-sphurtir bhayad vepate
kincalokya sudhamsu-kanta-salila-spandah alinde kshanad
enankodaya-sankini vikalatam atanvati murcchati
Paurnamasi: O boy with a face like the moon, seeing Her friends carefully guarding the door, and smelling the fragrance of the madhavi flowers, this girl trembles in fear. On Her porch seeing a candrakanta jewel begin to melt, this doe-eyed girl falls unconscious.
Note: The candrakanta jewel melts when exposed to moonlight. Seeing the moon and smelling the madhavi flowers, Radha is reminded of Krishna. Frustrated because She cannot go to Him, She falls unconscious.
TEXT 11
krishnah: (svagatam) hanta, kathoro ‘yam dasa-vivartah.
paurnamasi: sundara.
pranayishu militeshu prema-bhajam upeksha
ghatayati katu-pakany uccakair dushanani
dina-manir anuragi projjhya sandhyam raktam
tamasi nikhilam ugre majjayaty esha lokam
Krishna: (aside) Ah, it must be very painful for Her.
Paurnamasi: Handsome boy, neglect of another’s love brings very bitter results. Look! Setting on the horizon, the red sun now plunges everything into darkness.
(Ashamed, Krishna bows His head).
