Text 15

Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta (40) describes Śrī Rādhā’s longing to meet Śrī Kṛṣṇa:

हे देव! हे दयित! हे भुवनैक-बन्धो! हे कृष्ण! हे चपल! हे करुणैक-सिन्धो!
हे नाथ! हे रमण! हे नयनाभिराम! हा हा कदा नु भवितासि पदं दृशोर् मे

he deva! he dayita! he bhuvanaika-bandho! he kṛṣṇa! he capala! he karuṇaika-sindho!
he nātha! he ramaṇa! he nayanābhirāma! hā hā kadā nu bhavitāsi padaṃ dṛśor me

O Lord! O dearest one! O only friend of the three worlds! O Kṛṣṇa! O restless one! O only ocean of compassion! O Deva! O lover (ramaṇa)! O You who delight the eyes! Oh! When will You again be visible to My eyes? When will I receive Your darśana?

हे देव, हे प्राणप्रिय, एक-मात्र बन्धु इह,
हे कृष्ण, चपल, कृपा-सिन्धु
हे नाथ, रमण मम, नयनेर प्रियतम,
कबे देखा दिबे प्राण-बन्धु

he deva, he prāṇapriya, eka-mātra bandhu iha,
he kṛṣṇa, capala, kṛpā-sindhu
he nātha, ramaṇa mama, nayanera priyatama,
kabe dekhā dibe prāṇa-bandhu

Commentary: Bhajana-rahasya-vṛtti:

The sakhīs are consoling Śrī Vṛṣabhānu-nandinī, who is suffering in separation from Kṛṣṇa. Suddenly, Śrī Rādhā looks here and there and says, “O sakhī, listen! It is the sound of Kṛṣṇa’s ankle-bells! But why is He not coming before My eyes? Surely that rogue is dallying with some beautiful girl in a nearby kuñja.” While speaking like this, Śrī Rādhā becomes mad, and in that frenzied condition, She sees that Śrī Kṛṣṇa has come. On His body, though, are signs that He has been enjoying with another woman. Upon seeing the marks, Śrī Rādhā becomes indignant (amarṣa ) and, even though Śrī Kṛṣṇa is present before Her, She does not speak to Him but turns Her face away. Śrī Kṛṣṇa then disappears and Rādhā eagerly begins to search for Him here and there.

Restlessness resulting from a delay in seeing and attaining the desired object is called autsukya, ardent desire. When bhāvas overlap, it is known as bhāva-śābalya. When autsukya and asūyā (envy) awaken simultaneously, Śrī Rādhā sometimes criticises Kṛṣṇa, and some times She praises Him. Sometimes She goes into māna, some times She becomes proud and sometimes She praises Him sarcastically.

She says, “O Deva, because You sport with other women, You are called Deva{GL_NOTE::}.” Due to this disrespect, Kṛṣṇa leaves. Repentant, Śrī Rādhā begins to speak out of an eager longing to again enjoy His presence. “O beloved, You are the most dear of My life. Why did You desert Me? Please, grant Me Your darśana.”

Hearing this, Śrī Kṛṣṇa again appears. As soon as Śrī Rādhā sees Him, the sentiments of amarṣa (indignation) and asūyā (envy) arise in Her, and She sarcastically derides Him. “O only friend of the three worlds (bhuvanaika-bandhu), by playing Your enchanting flute, You bring all women under Your control, and for this reason You are the friend of the entire world. You are the friend of all gopīs, therefore You are always near them. Isn’t it Your own fault then, that You do not come to Me?”

Kṛṣṇa again disappears. Not seeing Him, Śrī Rādhā says, “O Kṛṣṇa! O Śyāmasundara! You attract the hearts of the entire universe. After stealing My heart, where have You gone? Please, kindly let Me see You, just once.”

Śrī Kṛṣṇa returns and says, “O Priyā, I was just outside the kuñja. Please, be satisfied with Me.”

Upon hearing Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s entreaty, which is mixed with fickleness, Rādhā says, “O fickle one (capala)! O snake of the cowherd maidens! Please, go away from here, stealer of other men’s wives! I have no need for You. Go back where You came from.”

Kṛṣṇa hears this and pretends to leave. Śrī Vṛṣabhānu-nandinī understands that Her prāṇanātha has gone and offers a supplication. “O only ocean of mercy, I know that I am an offender, but You are the ocean of compassion and Your heart is soft, so please give Me Your darśana. O lover (ramaṇa), You are always sporting with Me, so please come to the kuñja.”

Within Her mind, She understands that Kṛṣṇa has again arrived. Thus absorbed, She holds out Her arms to embrace Him but is unable to do so. Coming to external consciousness, She begins speaking in extreme distress, “O beloved to My eyes (nayanābhirāma )! O You who give joy to the eyes (nayanānanda)! My eyes are very thirsty to gaze upon You. Alas! When will You appear before them?”

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Deva means ‘someone who sports or plays’.