The Story of Padmavati and Jayadeva

Jayadeva was a Bengali poet from the Birbhum district in Bengal and was a great devotee of Their Lordships, Śrī Śrī Rādhā-mādhava. It’s been recorded that Jayadeva was a court paṇḍita during the reign of Rāja Lakṣmaṇa Sena of Gauḍa. So many incidents took place in his life related to their pure devotion that the Lord became very fond of Jayadeva and his devotee wife Padmavati.

He was in Champahati when he wrote his eternal poetry, the Gītagovinda. Always absorbed in the pastimes of Rādhā-kṛṣṇa, his attachment for Their Lordships increased more and more over time and thus floating on the waves of Kṛṣṇa-prema he composed this book of astonishing verses entitled Gīta-govinda. While Jayadeva was writing this book he described and revealed various rasas and bhāvas within his writings, yet it still lacked the touch of khaṇḍita-madhura-rasa. However, at one point he did not have the courage to depict Lord Kṛṣṇa, touching the feet of Śrīmatī Rādhikā.

One day, while Jayadeva was out for his daily bath in the ocean, Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, taking the form of Jayadeva, came into his room and wrote down the verse “Dehi pada pallavam udaram” in Jayadeva’s manuscript book.

Padmāvati, who was surprised to see that Jayadeva (Lord Kṛṣṇa) had returned so quickly from his bathing, said, “What is the matter? You just left a few minutes ago. How did you return so soon?”

Lord Kṛṣṇa, in the guise of Jayadeva said, “While on my way to the sea, a thought occurred to me, I didn’t want to forget it so I came back to note it down.”

Soon after Lord Kṛṣṇa had disappeared, Jayadeva returned from his bathing. Padmāvati was shocked to see Jayadeva return again so quickly and in her confusion said, “You went for your bath and soon came back to write something down in your book and left again just a few minutes ago. How could you finish your bath within such a short time and return home? I would like to know who that person that came here to write in your book and who is the person that is actually here now?”

Jayadeva, understanding the significance of the incident narrated by Padmāvati, at once went inside and quickly opened the book. The divine writing revealed the presence of his Lord Kṛṣṇa. He felt such ecstasy of love that tears rolled down over his chest. He then called his wife and said, “You are the most fortunate person because you have attained the goal of your birth. You had the darśana of Lord Kṛṣṇa, and I am such a fallen soul that I have been deprived of the darśana of His manifested Self.”