Bhajana-Rahasya

by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Mahasaya | 2010 | 123,965 words

The Bhajana-rahasya Text 20, English translation, including commentary (vritti). The Bhajana-rahasya is a compilation of verses describing the mercy of the eight pairs of names (Yugala-nama) of the Maha-mantra. This is text 20 belonging to the chapter “Ashtama-yama-sadhana (Ratri-lila–prema-bhajana sambhoga)” representing from midnight to three-and-a-half praharas of the night: approximately 00.00 a.m.–3.30 a.m.

In Stavāvalī (Vraja-vilāsa-stava 38) it is written:

ताम्बूलार्पण-पाद-मर्दन-पयो-दानाभिसारादिभिर्
   वृन्दारण्य-महेश्वरीं प्रियतया यास् तोषयन्ति प्रियाः
प्राण-प्रेष्ठ-सखी-कुलाद् अपि किलासङ्कोचिता-भूमिकाः
   केली-भूमिषु रूप-मञ्जरी-मुखास् ता दासिकाः संश्रये

tāmbūlārpaṇa-pāda-mardana-payo-dānābhisārādibhir
   vṛndāraṇya-maheśvarīṃ priyatayā yās toṣayanti priyāḥ

prāṇa-preṣṭha-sakhī-kulād api kilāsaṅkocitā-bhūmikāḥ
   kelī-bhūmiṣu rūpa-mañjarī-mukhās tā dāsikāḥ saṃśraye

I take shelter of the maidservants of Śrīmatī Rādhikā, of whom Rūpa Mañjarī is prominent. Unlike the priya-narma-sakhīs, they can perform any service without hesitation. They perpetually and affectionately satisfy Śrīmatī Rādhikā with their various services, such as offering tāmbūla, massaging Her feet, bringing Her water and arranging for Her trysts with Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

ताम्बूल-अर्पण, दुङ्हार चरण-मर्दन
पयोदान, अभिसार, दासी-सेवा-धन

tāmbūla-arpaṇa, duṅhāra caraṇa-mardana
payodāna, abhisāra, dāsī-sevā-dhana

Commentary: Bhajana-rahasya-vṛtti:

Śrī Rādhā’s sakhīs are of five kinds. Among them, the service of the nitya-sakhīs and prāṇa-sakhīs (all of whom are mañjarīs) is topmost. When Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa are overwhelmed with ecstasy and become helpless while enjoying confidential pastimes in a solitary nikuñja, the mañjarīs enter without any hesitation to perform all varieties of services. Although the mañjarīs perform their service under the instruction of Lalitā, Viśākhā and other priya-narma-sakhīs, when Yugala-kiśora are in a solitary nikuñja, Lalitā and Viśākhā can only enter with the permission of Rūpa Mañjarī and Rati Mañjarī. In rank, the priya-narma-sakhīs are more eminent, but in the good fortune of service, the mañjarīs are more prominent. Even when the priya-narma-sakhīs cannot enter the kuñja, the mañjarīs freely serve the Divine Couple there. Often, when Śrī Kṛṣṇa desires to meet Śrī Rādhā, He must repeatedly entreat the mañjarīs;only then does He receive the opportunity to meet with Her.

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