Song 29

(Vihāgaḍā rāga)

134-135. Wearing glorious silk saris and glorious silk bodices, glorious earrings on their ears, their hair gracefully tied, wearing necklaces of pearls and gold, and rejecting red cosmetics, the beautiful, beautiful, beautiful young girls of Nadīyā were plunged in an ocean of bliss. Running to see Lord Viśvambhara’s wedding, they sang very auspicious songs.

136. Some had glorious silk garments in disarray. Some had a regal-scented campaka flower decorating an ear. They were graceful like regal elephants. With doe eyes they cast crooked glances in different directions. They did not know where to go.

137. Decorated with black añjana, their restless eyes were like khañjana birds. Their anointed with the ointment of Lord Gaura’s form, they would not go anywhere but to Him.

138. Hearing them coming, in village after village the girls ran behind them. Some still had a comb in their hair. Some had not finished arranging their garments.

139. The girls abandoned their pearllike husbands. They abandoned their families and kin. They paid no attention to their garments and ornaments. They became like wild women.

140. They were like a host of stationary lightning flashes, or swans, or autumn moons. Row after row after row, they held hands.

141. Men and women ran. As if they had only one mouth, no one spoke what was in his heart. Pushing and shoving, they ran like wild people to see Lord Gaurāṅga’s face.

142. The young, old, blind, lame, frail, and sick all yearned to see Lord Gaura. They were not shackled to each other. Still, the friends continued to hold each other’s hands as they ran.

143. Filled with Kāmadeva’s desires, the girls gazed at Lord Gaura’s face. They became wild to see Him. Row after row of birds and animals stood, gazing at Lord Gaura.

144. Lord Gaura was surrounded by His friends. He was decorated with glistening ornaments. A crown was on His forehead. Locana dāsa says: The girls were delirious. The doors of their hearts were broken open.