Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (Clever Krishna)
by Srila Rupa Goswami
Act Four: Venu-harana
Theft of the Flute
TEXT 12 (a)
krishnah:
muhura dhasyati Radha
mad-urasi rasika atmanam
Krishna: When will beautiful Radha embrace My chest?
TEXT 17 (a)
padma: ajja, evvam bhanami. manini-e pi-a-sahi-e sa-am sama-amejna lahavam hodi. ta paravatti-a kanham vinnavehi.
Padma: O saintly one, this I say: My proud friend may treat Krishna lightly when He goes to her. Please go and tell Krishna this.
TEXT 17 (b)
madhumangalah: sohanam mantesi. (iti krishnantim asadya). pi-a-vaassa, pacchannena bhavi-a savvam de a-annidam ma-e ukkhanthava-anam. ta anavehi. tam jjevva tujjha vallaham turi-am samanemi.
Madhumangala: You speak well. (Madhumangala approaches Krishna). Dear friend, by eavesdropping I heard Your words of longing. Please order me, and I will quickly bring Your beloved.
TEXT 17 (c)
krishnah: (saslagham alingya) sakhe, mad-anugrahena sighram anaya.
(madhumangalah parikramya padmaya saha niskrantah).
Krishna: (Glorifies and embraces Madhumangala) Friend, I bless you. Please quickly bring Her.
(Accompanied by Padma, Madhumangala walks offstage.)
TEXT 17 (d)
krishnah: aho paramotkanthanam premnam utkantha-karitvam.
bhramare ‘pi gunjati nikunja-kotare
manute manas tu mani-nupura-dhvanim
anilena cancati trinancale ‘pi tam
puratah priyam upagatam visankate
Krishna: Ah! I am overcome by the yearnings of love! When a bumble-bee hums in the grove, my heart thinks it is My beloved’s tinkling anklets. When the grass moves in the wind. My heart thinks My beloved has come.
TEXT 18 (a)
(tatah pravisati padma-madhumangalabhyam sangata candravali).
candravali: hala pa-ume, kim eso ba-ula-kundago disa-i.
padma: adha im. ta tunnam ehi. (iti parikramati).
(Accompanied by Padma and Madhumangala, Candravali enters).
Candravali: Padma, is that the bakula forest I see?
Padma: Yes. Let us quickly go there. (They walk there.)
TEXT 18 (b)
krishnah: (nupura-ravam akarnya) hanta, bhuriso bhramito ‘smi bhramari-jhankaraih. tad alam vritha pratyudgama-sambhramena. (ity udvegam natayan).
Krishna: (Hears the tinkling of the anklets) Ah, I am fooled by buzzing of the bees. I foolishly think She has come. (He is agitated.)
TEXT 18 (c)
purah-phalayam asayam
janah kamam vidambyate
asanne hi ghanarambhe
dvi-gunam ranti catakah
When there is a little hope, desire increases. When the clouds come, the cataka birds cry twice as loud.
TEXT 19 (a)
(punar utkarno bhavan). katham abhyarne bhusana-sinjitam sruyate. (ity udgrivikam datva. sasambhramam). satyam asau milita me preyasi. (iti tarasa candravali-parsvam agatya).
(He becomes very attentive). Why do I hear tinkling ornaments? (Craning His neck with expectation, He is excited.) My beloved has come! (Krishna rushes to Candravali’s side).
TEXT 19 (b)
hrid-bhringa-jangama-lata
mangala-bha radhika mayonmudita
(ity ardhokte).
Now I see the flowering vine where the bumblebee of My heart flies. Now I see glorious and auspicious Radha, who, . . . (Krishna stops in mid-sentence.)
TEXT 19 (c)
(Candravali sershyam madhumangalam alokate.)
madhumangalah: sahi canda-ali, mangala-bharena adhi-asi ti pi-a-vaasso tumam vannedi.
(Candravali angrily glances at Madhumangala).
Madhumangala: Friend Candravali, you are glorious. Our dear friend describes you.
TEXT 19 (d)
krishnah: (savailakshyam atmagatam). hanta, katham anena candravalir evabhisarita, bhavatu. cavtunoktam eva nirvahayami.
Krishna: (Surprised, He says to Himself:) Ah, why did he bring Candravali? I will flatter her.
TEXT 19 (e)
(prakasam)
suhrid-anuraga-vitandra
candravalir anjasalambhi
(He says openly:) Her love awakened, My friend Candravali has quickly come.
TEXT 20
(Candravali salajjam krishna-kanthe vaijayantim vinyasyati).
krishnah: (sanandam)
ekam prayati paricarya cakora-raji
candram priye nija-manoratha-pura-purtim
candravali kim u mamakshi-cakorayos tvam
pritijm dvayor api na dhasyati sevyamana]
(Embarrassed, Candravali places a Vaijayanti garland on Krishna’s neck).
Krishna: (joyful) By worshiping a single moon, a flock of cakora birds finds all its desires fulfilled. O Candravali, you are a great multitude of moons. Why should the two cakora birds of My eyes not find bliss by serving you?
TEXT 21 (a)
madhumangalah: (sagarvam) bho vaassa, dittha tu-e majjha vilakkhana-vi-akkhanada, jo kkhu ananta-guna-salinavi tu-e mo-a-idum na parido so pi-a-sahi-e mana-ganthi na-a-guna-dharina ma-e mo-avido.
Madhumangala: (proud) Friend, now You see how clever I am. Although Your virtues are endless, You could not untie Your dear friend’s knot of jealous anger. I, a reservoir of ever-new virtues, untied it.
TEXT 21 (b)
krishnah: vayasya, tvam uddanda-kusuma-kodanda-vilasa-sad-gunye mahasandhi-vigrahilo ‘si.
Padma: ajja, puro paphulla-im malli-puppha-im papphuranti. ta ehi, ima-im genhamha.
(ity ubhau niskrantau).
Krishna: Friend, when Kamadeva, who holds a fearsome bow of flowers, considers his six kingly strategies, you are his prime minister of war and peace.
Padma: (Speaking to Madhumangala) Saintly friend, ahead of us are many blossoming jasmineflowers. Come. Let us pick them.
(Padma and Madhumangala exit).
TEXT 21 (c)
krishnah: (svagatam) kunje ‘smin nagatamatram radham tarkayami. tad anyatah prasthasye. (prakasam) priye, purastan natidure nagara-rangocita naga-kesaratavi. tad atraivanusaravah.
(iti niskrantau).
Krishna: (aside) I think Radha is not in this forest. I will go to another forest. (openly) Beloved, not far ahead is a naga-kesara forest right for Our amorous pastimes. Let Us go there.
(Candravali and Krishna exit.)
TEXT 21 (d)
(tatah pravisati lalitaya saha sankathayanti radha).
Radha: hala, pekkha pekkha. anda-arehim gholidam savvam disa-muham.
Lalita: pi-a-sahi. timirahisarecidehim salama-ppasahanehim mandido tu-e kim kkhu appa.
Radhika: adha im.
(Talking to Lalita, Radha enters).
Radha: Friend, look! Look! Every direction is covered by terrible darkness.
Lalita: Dear friend, do You wear dark ornaments right for secretly meeting someone in the darkness?
Radha: Yes.
TEXT 21 (e)
Lalita: (vilokya sasmitam. sanskritena).
dhammillopari nilaratna-racito haras tvaya ropito
vinyastah kuca-kumbhayoh kuvalaya-sreni-krito garbhagah
ange kalpitam anjanam vinihita kasturika netrayoh
kamsarer abhisara-sambhrama-bharan manye jagad-vismritam
Lalita: (She glances, smiles, and says in Sanskrit:) A necklace of sapphires decorates Your braids. A garland of blue lotus flowers rests on Your waterpot breasts. On Your limbs is sandal paste. Around Your eyes is musk. I think that, yearning to meet Krishna, You have forgotten the world.
TEXT 22 (a)
Radhika: hala, muncehi parihasam. turi-am uddesehi kesara-kundaga-maggam.
Radha: Please don’t joke. Quickly show Me the path to the naga-kesara forest.
TEXT 22 (b)
Lalita: ido ido pi-a-sahi. (iti parikramanti sasankam. sanskritena).
timira-masibhih samvitangyah kadamba-vanantare
sakhi mura-ripum punyatmanah saranty abhisarikah
tava tu parito vidyud-varnas tanu-dyuti-sucayo
hari hari ghana-dhvantanyetah svavairini bhindate
Lalita: This way. This way, dear friend. (Lalita gingerly walks) Friend, their limbs anointed with dark cosmetics, many saintly girls go to meet Krishna in the kadamba forest. Alas, alas, the lightning splendor of Your limbs has become Your enemy. Now it breaks the darkness.
TEXT 23
Radhika: alam imina uvalambhena. pekkha paccasanno ba-ula-kundago. (iti sambhramad upasritya saparamarsam. sanskritena).
viduran na ghranam madayati murareh parimalo
na kunje ‘yam tasya sphurati nakhara-dyoti-nikaraih
tatah sanke kasminn api rahasi valli-valayite
parihasankshi priya-sakhi nilinas tava sakha
Radha: Stop mocking Me! Look! The bakula forest stands before Us. (She walks quickly and passionately. Then She says in Sanskrit:) From afar Krishna’s fragrance does not make the nose mad with bliss. The forest is not filled with the splendor of His fingernails and toenails. Dear friend, I suspect your friend, wishing to play a joke, now hides behind some flowering vine.
TEXT 24 (a)
Lalita: hala, ehi. vamado kadamba-kundagam vi-inamha.
Radhika: (tatha kurvati) a-i cha-illa, ditthosi ditthosi, kisa angehim anga-im sangovesi. (iti samantan mrigayati).
Lalita: sahi, munca maggana-ggaham. ehi keli-kundaga-kappanam kunamha.
Lalita: Ah! Come. Let’s examine these kadamba trees on the left.
Radha: (Does that.) Clever, playful rascal, I see You. I see You. Why do You hide Your limbs? (Radha searches everywhere.)
Lalita: Friend, give up searching. Come. Let’s decorate the pastime-forest.
TEXT 24 (b)
Radhika: (sanskritena)
racaya bakula-puspais toranam keli-kunje
kuru varam aravindais talpam indivarakshi
upanaya sayanantam sadhu madhvika-patrim
sahacari harir adya slaghatam kausalam te
Radha: (in Sanskrit) Make a bakula-flower archway in the pastime forest. O Lotus-eyed friend, make a couch of blue lotus flowers. Place a cup of madhvika nectar by the couch. Friend, today Krishna will praise your skill.
TEXT 25 (a)
Lalita: (tatha kritva) hala, pekkha. kanho vilambedi. ta kunjam pavisi-a nam padivalemha.
Lalita: (She does that.) Ah! Look! Krishna is late. Lets enter the forest and wait for Him.
TEXT 25 (b)
Radhika: (parikramya. udvegam natayanti. sanskritena).
ruddhah kvapi sakhi-hitartha-paraya sanke harih padmaya
praptah kunja-griham yad esa na tamiyame ‘py atikramati
paulomi-ratibandhu-din-mukham asan ha hanta santarpayann
unmilaty abhisara-lubdha-ramani-gotrasya satruh sasi
(ity ubhe niskrante).
Radha: (Agitated, walks about) I think that Lord Hari (Krishna) has been somewhere stopped by Padma, who is devoted to pleasing her friend (Candravali). For this reason, even though we have come to this cottage in the grove, Krishna has not come here (to meet us). Alsas, the moon is now rising and delighting the eastern direction, which is presided over by Indra, the husband of Paulomi. That moon is the enemy of beautiful (Young) girls who desire a secret rendezvous (With their lovers).
(Radha and Lalita exit).
TEXT 26
(tatah pravisati krishnah).
krishnah: (samantad avalokya).
asangah kumudakaresu sithilo bhringavalinam abhud
vikshante nija-kotarankitam ami kshoniruham kausikah
sankoconmukhatam prayati sanakair auttanapader dyutih
kim bhanur nanu purva-parvata-tatim arodhum utkanthate
(Krishna enters).
Krishna: (Looking in all directions). The bumble-bees are no longer enthused (to move along) the lotus flowers, and the owls are looking for the trees where their nests are placed. The light of the pole-star is gradually fading. Is the sun now eager to rise on the eastern mountain?
TEXT 27 (a)
(iti parikramya) na jane navina-vipralambhena sambhrita-nirbhara-samrambha kim nama pratipatsyate ‘dya radha. (vimrisya) bhavatu. kesarena naga-kesaram pratipadayisye. tad amuni naga-kesarani vicinuyami. (iti tatha kritva puro ‘nusarpan).
(Walking about) I do not know if Radha will be greatly angry and dissapointed (Because I arrived so late at the rendezvous). (Reflects for a moment). Yes, I shall go to the grove of bakula trees and pick these flowers. (Krishna picks some flowers and returns).
TEXT 27 (b)
kapati sa lata-kutim imam
sakhi nagad adhunapi madhavah
iti jalpa-paritaya taya
klama-dirgha gamita katham tami
Radha will certainly say to her friend. “O friend, even now that cheating boy Madhava (Krishna) has not come (To the rendezvous in this) grove of bakula trees.” How will she be able to pass the night in such great distress?
TEXT 28
(parikramya. bakula-kunjam pasyan. savisadam).
tambulam ghanasara-sankritam adah kshiptam puro radhaya
hari hanta harinmani-stabakito haro ‘yam utsaritah
pauspi ceyam udare-saurabha-mayi cuda nakhaih khandita
tasyah samsati vipralambha-janitam kunjo ‘yam antah klamam
(Walking about, Krishna sees the grove of bakula trees and laments). “Radha has thrown away the mixture of betel nuts and camphor, and she has discarded her charming necklace of emeralds. With her firngernails she has ripped apart the fragrant crown of flowers”. In this way the grove of trees proclaims Radha’s great distress, (Which was caused by My inability to arrive at the place of rendezvous).
TEXT 29 (a)
(ity agrato gatva). iyam eva radhayah suryaradhana-vedika. tad asyah parsvam asadayami. (iti parikramati).
(Walking ahead). This is the altar where Radha worships the sun-god. I shall go near to it. (He approaches the altar).
TEXT 29 (b)
(tatah pravisati sakhibhyam anugamyamana radha).
Radha: (puro vilokya) hala lalide, pekkha ve-i-a-nedittho so tujjha cha-illo.
Lalita: sahi, kancana-padimevva kathora hohi.
(Accompanied by her two friends, Lalita and Visakha, Radha enters).
Radha: (Looking ahead) O Lalita, look. Your handsome young man is standing near the altar.
Lalita: O friend, become like a stiff golden deity.
TEXT 29 (c)
krishnah: purastad esa saha-parivara priya. tad idam uttankayami. (ity upasritya) lalite, sadhu sadhu. drishtam tava garishtham atra durmantra-tantra-caryayam acaryatvam. yad adya bhavatya kesara- nikunja-vedyam aham ujjagara-vrata-diksham parigrahito ‘smi.
Krishna: Here are My beloved (Radha) and her friend (Lalita). I shall go to speak to them. (Krishna approaches them). O Lalita, well-done, well-done. Now I can see how you are an expert teacher in the matter of giving bad advice. At this altar in the grove of naga-kesara trees, you have now initiated Me in the vow of staying awake (All night).
Meeting in the Bower
Kishangarh School
