In Vrindavan there are some special places with fascinating histories. Nidhivan is a very beautiful kunja of small trees. According to Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakura when Lord Krishna left Rasalila to find Srimati Radharani, this is … Read More
Rādhā, feeling slightly bewildered and fatigued from Her amorous pastimes, repeatedly tried to rise only to collapse again in slumber. She looked like a royal swan bobbing up and down in a wave- filled lake. … Read More
The sounds of cowherds churning milk and brāhmaṇas chanting the Vedas echoed throughout the town. The loud chanting of the brāhmaṇas competed with the cows anxiously calling their calves. In competition, the clamor of the … Read More
There were raised platforms for sleeping, eating and sitting at various places in the palace. Rādhā’s mañjarīs cleansed them with water and smeared sandalwood paste and other fragrant unguents on them. The mañjarīs would spread … Read More
Prātaḥ-līlā (6:00 a.m.—6:24 a.m.) Śrī Rūpa-mañjarī and the other mañjarīs got up, bathed and anointed their bodies with sandalwood and unguents after Rādhā fell asleep in Her in-laws home. The mañjarīs wore Rādhā’s prasādi garlands, … Read More
Niśānta-līḷā (5:36 a.m.—6:00 a.m.) Rādhā-Mādhava, wrapped in sweet talk, forgot all about going home. The sakhīs smiled broadly, intoxicated with pleasure. Only Vṛndā-devī worried over the coming daylight[1]. Vṛṇdā doubted for a moment whether Rādhā-Mādhava’s … Read More
The mirth of the sakhīs brought the Divine Couple out of Their ever-expanding ocean of ecstasy. Rādhā-Mādhava gazed at each other’s faces with widened eyes and stood motionless like figures drawn in a painting. As … Read More
The jubilant sakhīs left the forest cottage carrying various articles, including a golden pitcher, a polished mirror and a fan with a golden handle. One sakhī held a multicolored bowl filled with kuṅkuma and sandalwood. … Read More
Rādhā-Mādhava plunged in the ocean of ecstatic love. The joyous sakhīs, intoxicated from drinking the sweetness of the early morning pastimes, had completely forgotten their assigned tasks. Vṛndā found Rādhā-Govinda submerged in the ocean … Read More
Krishna said, “O sakhīs, look here! The star named Rādhā, seeing her lover, the moon, about to depart at dawn, became pained by separation and drew hundreds of moonbeams on the canvas of the sky.” … Read More
The Sakhīs’ Joy in Seeing Śrī Rādhā and the Pleasure Bed The middle of the pleasure bed had kuṅkuma stains from Krishna’s body. The edges of the bed were smeared with red lac from Rādhā’s … Read More
Another translation: The maidservant named Śrī Rūpa-mañjarī became joyful because she is an expert in tastefully dressing and decorating Rādhā-Mādhava[1]. One mañjarī placed a pillow behind Rādhā-Mādhava, while another covered Their bare bodies with a … Read More
Rādhā-Govinda awoke at the same time and stretched Their limbs. Rādhā’s extended body looked like a bow of golden campaka flowers and Krishna’s resembled a bow of blue lotuses. Giving up each other’s embrace, Rādhā-Mādhava … Read More
The roosters woke up, craned their necks, flapped their wings and crowed five or six times. Rādhā felt distressed at their noise. Their crowing had stopped Her from embracing Krishna, so Rādhā angrily cursed them. “Hey … Read More
The male parrots speak to Krishna The male parrots, eager to please sleepy Krishna, tried to wake Him by making sweet sounds and speaking many beautiful, cheerful words to satisfy the mind and heart like … Read More
Female Parrots speak to Rādhā “O Rādhe! Have You forgotten all respect and family reputation? You should not be lying here! Stop sleeping, which deprives You of amorous delights and quickly get up. Just see … Read More
Krishna took a brilliant necklace from the hand of Ruci-mañjarī and hung it on Rādhā’s chest. Rādhā commented proudly, “You have removed the sandalwood paste and bodice from My breasts. Without replacing them, why have … Read More
(Niśānta-līḷā (4:24 a.m.—5:36 a.m.) Ascertaining that Rādhā and Krishna were awake, the mañjarīs fearlessly opened the door and quietly entered the bed chamber[1]. The mañjarīs beheld Rādhā-Mādhava wrapped in a deep embrace as They … Read More
Rādhā said[1], “O playful one, Your erotic pastimes have caused My clothes and ornaments to fall off and scatter. My sakhīs have not come yet, so why don’t You quickly dress Me as before? Apply … Read More
Śrī Hari’s handsome face, framed by fickle locks of hair and fragrant as a lotus flower, was beautified with makara earrings, a gentle smile and eyes indolent with pleasure. Lotus-eyed Rādhā became eager to enjoy … Read More
