(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 slept. The blue and yellow radiance of Their unadorned bodies caused the jeweled lamps in the cottage to appear like buds of blue lotus and campaka[2].
The mañjarīs saw the bruises on Rādhā-Mādhava’s lips and the fingernail scratches on Their bodies. Their hair was disheveled, Their clothes had loosened and They appeared drowsy from the labor of love. Their necklaces and flower garlands were broken. Observing the Divine Couple like this filled the mañjarīs’ hearts with delight[3].
Krishna took a comb from Bhānumatī-mañjarī[4] and very gently combed Rādhikā’s shining hair. He wove a garland of fragrant jasmine flowers into Rādhā’s long hair braid. Next, Krishna used a new brush to expertly paint artistic patterns on Rādhā’s forehead with musk, saffron and sandalwood prepared by Rāgalekhā-mañjarī. Krishna adorned Kiśorī’s ears with beautiful ornaments made by Lavaṅga-mañjarī and anointed Her lotus eyes with fresh kajjala.
[1] Krishna-bhāvanāmṛtam 2.26
[2] Krishna-bhāvanāmṛtam 1.9
[3] Govinda-līlāmṛta 1.63
[4] Second name for Rati-mañjarī
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