Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (Clever Krishna)
by Srila Rupa Goswami
Act Two: Manmatha-lekha
The Love-letter
Scene 1 (Continued)
TEXT 36 (a)
madhumangalah: a-i va-ali-e, cittha cittha. dittho ma-e ukkhitta-danda-mandalehim govehim govaddhano dharido. tumam kisa ekkam jjeva pi-a-vaassam sambhavesi.
Madhumangala: Talkative girl, stop! Stop! I myself saw how the cowherd men, with their upraised sticks, held up Govardhana Hill. Why do you praise my dear friend Krishna in this way? He did not hold up the hill alone.
TEXT 36 (b)
krishnah: lalite, alam ati-prasangena. tan nivartasva.
lalita: sundara, savva-go-ula-suha-karino vi tu-atto kadham sa eka jjevva dukkham arihadi vari-asi.
Krishna: Lalita, this is too muck talking. Please stop.
Lalita: Handsome one, You delight everyone in Gokula. Why must this one girl suffer because of You?
TEXT 36 (c)
sangi me madhumangalo na sahate dharmadhvano vicyutim
sridama parimargayan mama nahi cchidrani nidrayati
kamsah sasti khalah kshitim katham ato mugdhe vidheyam maya
nihsankam kula-sundari-paribhavaj-jvala-maha-sahasam
Krishna: My companion Madhumangala does not tolerate any deviation from the path of piety, and Sridama, busily searching for my faults, does not even sleep. Cruel Kamsa harshly rules this country. O bewildered girl, in these circumstances how is it possible for Me to fearlessly make a pious and beautiful girl burn in flames of anguish?
TEXT 37
lalita: (samarsham. sanskritena).
antah-klesa-kalankitah kila vayam yamo 'dya yamyam purim
nayam vancana-sancaya-pranayinam hasam tathapy ujjhati
asmin samputite gabhira-kapatair abhira-palli-vite
ha medhavini radhike tava katham prema gariyan abhut
(iti roditi)
Lalita (indignant, in Sanskrit) Our hearts are so polluted by miserable condition that we are certainly going to Pluto's kingdom. Nevertheless, Krishna does not give up His beautiful loving smiling, which is full of cheating tricks. O Srimati Radharani, You are very intelligent. How could You have developed such great loving affection for this deceitful debauchee from the neighborhood of the cowherds?*
(Lalita cries)
TEXT 38 (a)
madhumangalah: a-i muddhe, sa-ala-sattha-visara-o jassa amhariso amacco ho-i sovi kim edam dhammam adikkamissa-i. ta alam vana-rudidena.
Madhumangala: Bewildered beautiful girl, Krishna is learned in all the scriptures. He is our friend and counselor. Why would He disobey the rules of morality? What is the use of all your words, words that are like crying in the forest?
TEXT 38 (b)
visakha: (svagatam) namrahi-e gunja-ali-am kanhassa denti ham ingidam lakkhemi.
Visakha: (aside) This garland of gunja was worn by Radha. Now I will give it to Krishna. By observing His response, I will know His actual feelings toward Radha.
TEXT 38 (c)
(prakasam, sanskritena)
udirna-ragena karambitantara
parisphurat-krishna-mukhi gunancita
gunjavali manjutaravalambatam
saradhikeyam tava kantha-sangamam
(iti kanthe svayam arpayati.)
(Openly, in Sanskrit) May this very beautiful red and black gunja-necklace gracefully hang upon Your neck.
(She places the necklace on Krishna's neck.)
Note: If the word "saradhikeyam" is divided “sa radhikeyam, this ambiguous verse may also be translated:
"May virtuous Radha, whose mouth chants the name Krishna, and whose heart passionately loves You, hang around Your neck like a gunja-necklace."
TEXT 39
krishnah: (smitva sakapatershyam).
raginam api sukathoram
suvrittam api muhur udirna-malinyam
yuvatinam iva bhavam
nahi gunja-haram icchami
(ity ajanan iva kanthad avatarya rangana-malikam arpayati.)
Krishna: (smiling, He pretends to be angry.) Although these gunja berries are very red, hard, and gracefully round, they are both crooked and unripe. I do not wish such a necklace.
(As if bewildered, Krishna removes the gunja-necklace from His neck and offers it back to Lalita.)
Note: This ambiguous verse may also be translated:
"This garland is an ambiguous love-message from some young girl. Although great love is intented, the words are harsh, and although they are very clever, the words are also crooked. I do not wish to accept such a message-necklace."
TEXT 40 (a)
visakha: (svagatam) imassa bhamo vi amhanam mangalo samvutto. (iti vastrena samvrinoti.)
Visakha: (aside) Krishna's bewilderment is our good fortune. (She covers the necklace with a cloth.)
TEXT 40 (b)
lalita: hala, govi-a-kodi-bhu-angassa imassa akkhalidam accari-am bamhacari-am ditthi-a paadi-bhumam. ta mahevi gadu-a tam amhevi gadu-a tam atthananura-inim rahi-am nivattavemha.
visakha: sahi, juttam mantesi.
(ity ubhe parikramatah.)
Lalita: Destiny has shown us the unflinching celibacy of a snake who loves millions of gopis. We should both go and stop Radha, who has fallen in love with a very unsuitable boy.
Visakha: Friend, what you say is right.
TEXT 40 (c)
lalita: visahe, tumam gadu-a ima-e rangana-mali-a-e pi-a-sahim asasehi. aham kkhu edam vuttantam bhaavadi-e vinivedissam.
(iti nishkrante.)
Lalita: Visakha, take this gunja-necklace to our dear friend and comfort Her. I will explain everything to Paurnamasi.
(Lalita and Visakha exit.)
TEXT 40 (d)
madhumangalah: bho, adarijjantam appanam kisa adaravesi idam kkhu
paccadava-pavvatahirohanassa ahirohini-nimamanam dava.
krishnah: sakhe satyam bravishi. sahasikyam hasitenaivanushthitam.
Madhumangala: This girl adores You. Why don't You also adore Her? You are building a staircase that leads up a mountain of regret.
Krishna: Friend, what you say is true. It was not right to mock that girl.
TEXT 40 (e)
madhumangalah: pekkha go-i-ju-alam nettapaham adikkamidam.
Madhumangala: Look, two gopis walk on the pathway of Our eyes.
TEXT 40 (f)
srutva nishthuratam mamendu-vadana premakuram bhindati
svante santi-dhuram vidhaya vidhure prayah parancishyati
kimva pamara-kama-karmuka-paritrasta vimokshyaty asun
ha maugdhyat phalini manoratha-lata mridvi mayonmulita
Krishna: (with regret) Upon hearing of My cruelty, moon-faced Radha may establish some kind of tolerance in Her aggrieved heart. But then She might turn against Me. Or, indeed, being fearful of the lusty desires invoked by the bow of formidable Cupid, She might even give up Her life. Alas! I have foolishly uprooted the soft creeper of Her desire just when it was ready to bear fruit.*
TEXT 41 (a)
madhumangalah: danim kim ettha saranam.
krishnah: sakhe, pratyananga-lekham vina nanyat pasyami saranam.
Madhumangala: Now what will be out shelter?
Krishna: Friend, I do not see any shelter but writing an answer to that letter.
TEXT 41 (b)
madhumangalah: kim ettha leha-sahanam.
krishnah: vasikara-kriya-prasasto ragavan java-niryasah.
madhumangalah: ehi, udda-mahada-i-mandidam nadure pakkandana-tittham gacchemha.
(iti nishkrantau.)
Madhumangala: What will We use to write Our letter?
Krishna: A letter scented with roses would bring Her under My spell.
Madhumangala: Let us go to nearby Praskandana-tirtha, which is decorated with a great forest of roses.
(Krishna and Madhumangala exit.)
TEXT 41 (c)
(tatah pravisati visakhaya prabodhyamana radha.)
radha: (sakkhedam. sanskritena)
yasyotsanga-sukhasaya sithilita gurvi gurubhyas trapa
pranebhyo 'pi suhrit-tamah sakhi tatha yuyam pariklesitah
dharmah so 'pi mahan maya na ganitah sadhvibhir adhyasito
dhig dhairyam tad-upekshitapi yad aham jivami papiyasi
(Accompanied by Visakha, who is explaining everything, Radha enters.)
Radha: (unhappy, in Sanskrit) Desiring the happiness of His association and embraces, My dear friend, I disregarded even My superiors and relaxed My shyness and gravity before them. Furthermore, although you are My best friend, more dear to Me than My own life, I have given you so much trouble. Indeed, I even put aside the vow of dedication to My husband, a vow kept by the most elevated women. Oh, alas! Although He is now neglecting Me, I am so sinful that I am still living. Therefore I must condemn My so-called patience.*
TEXT 42 (a)
visakha: (sasambhramam) sahi, samassasa samassasa. (iti rangana-malam ghrane 'rpayati.)
radhika: (samjnam labdhva.) hala, kim edam accari-am jam sammohanam vi pavohedi.
Visakha: (respectfully) Friend, please be comforted. Be comforted. (She places the gunja-necklace to Radha's nose.)
Radhika: (with understanding) Ah! In the beginning it made Me almost fall unconscious. Why does this wonderful necklace now revive Me from that unconsciousness?
TEXT 42 (b)
visakha: (malyam nivedya. sanskritena)
angottirna-vilapanam sakhi samakrishti-kriyayam manir
mantro hanta muhur vasi-kriti-vidhau namasya vamsi-pateh
nirmalya iyam mahaushadhir iha avantasya sammochane
nasam kastisrinam grinati paramacintyam prabhavavalim
Visakha: (gives the garland to Radha.) Friend, the sandal paste from the flutist Krishna's forehead is a mystic jewel that draws people to it. Krishna's name is a mantra that brings people under its control. Krishna's flower-garland is a potion that charms people's hearts. Who does not know the inconceivable power of these three things?
TEXT 43 (a)
radhika: (svagatam) evam-gunena imina uvekkhidam vi nam hada-sariram kadham ajjavi nillajjanam dharemi. ta kali-a-hada-pavesova-am anusarissam. (prakasam) visahe, vinnavehi guru-anam jam baraha-icca-tittham gadu-a suram accidukamamhi.
Radhika: (aside) Krishna, who has all these glorious virtues, neglects this body of Mine, a body that is better off dead. Why do I shamelessly keep this body alive? I will drown it the waters of Kaliya Lake. (openly) Visakha, please tell My superiors that, desiring to worship the sun-god, I went to Dvadasaditya-tirtha.
TEXT 43 (b)
visakha: sahu sumara-idam pi-a-sahi-e jam ajja-e jadila-e vi idam jjevva danim aditthamhi. ta ehi.
(ity ubhe parikramatah.)
Visakha: My dear friend well remembers saintly Jatila's order, an order I now accept from You. Come. Let us go.
(They begin to walk.)
TEXT 43 (c)
radhika: (savyamocham)
mam parihara-i mu-undo tahavi durasa virohini daha-i
maha sahi gahira-nira saranam bahini kidantassa
Radhika: (perplexed) Although Krishna neglects me, the hostile and unfulfillable hope to attain Him burns in Me still. Friend, the deep waters of the Yamuna, who is the sister of the king of death, is My only shelter.
TEXT 44 (a)
visakha: hala, pekkha patthane mangala-su-nna-im sa-una-im. ta evam ma bhana.
radhika: (puro drishtva) bala, katham esa puvva-disa-muhe a-ali-a samjha disa-i.
Visakha: Look at the auspicious signs appearing on our path. Don't say anything more.
Radhika: (looking ahead) Why did the sun suddenly set in the east before it is time?
TEXT 44 (b)
visakha: na kkhu samjha. pekkha pakkandane surassa ballaha pariphullida udura-i rehadi. ta imassa aggham kadum nam avacinamha.
(ity ubhe kurutah).
Visakha: The sun didn't set. Look! The beautiful roses in Praskanda-tirtha, roses dear to the sun-god, are splendidly in bloom. Let's pick some to make rose water.
TEXT 44 (c)
(tatah pravisati batuna saha krishnah.)
krishnah: sakhe, seyam radhadhara-kanti-taskari java-rajih.
madhumangalah: ado nam nippidi-a nimmahi paccananga-leham.
(Krishna and Madhumangala enter.)
Krishna: Friend, these roses are thieves who have stolen their beauty from Radha's lips.
Madhumangala: Press the juice from these roses, and write a reply to Radha's love-letter.
TEXT 44 (d)
krishnah: (parikampya savismayam.)
esha nantika-vartini sura-girer ailavriti hanta bhur
agre kim kalayami kancana-rucam udgara-gaurir disaham jnatam mani-nupura-dhvani-bharad ali-janalankrita
kantinam kula-devata vilasitum vrindatavim vindati
Krishna: (trembling with wonder) This is not the valley of Mount Sumeru. Why do I see a golden splendor in every direction? Ah! The sound of many jeweled anklets makes Me know that the goddess of beauty must have entered Vrindavana Forest to enjoy many pastimes.
TEXT 45 (a)
madhumangalah: hanta bho, maggijjnatammi va-urasahane kurangi sa-am hattham gada.
krishnah: (sanandam) sakhe, sadhu vijnatam. tad atra vrikshantaritau srinuvah kim asau prastauti. (iti tatha sthitau.)
Madhumangala: Ah, now the deer places her foot in the trap.
Krishna: (blissful) O friend, you understand this very well. Let us hide behind this tree and hear what they say.
(They stand behind the tree.)
