Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (Clever Krishna)
by Srila Rupa Goswami
Act Five: Radha-prasadana
Decorating Radha
TEXT 11 (a)
(pravisya)
visakha: hala subala-hatthado laddha i-am patti-a.
(Visakha enters).
Visakha: I got this letter from the hand of Subala.
TEXT 11 (b)
lalita: (grhitva vacayati)
medhyo 'pi madhavikkaya madhupo yad esa
kshiptah svayam pracalata nava-pallavena
tasyah khalu kshitir iyam su-samakshayena
nandaty ayam tu viruvann aravindinishu
Lalita: (Taken the letter and reads aloud) If, even though the black bee has not committed any offense, the madhavi creeper still tossess it aside with its a moving newly blossommed tendril, then the buzzing bee will simply enjoy other pastimes, buzzing with sweet words among the lotus flowers.
Note: In this allegory Krishna is the black bee, Radha is the madhavi creeper, and Radha's gopi rivals are the lotus flowers.
TEXT 12
radhika: (sa-visadam. sanskritena)
ajani vimukhah sanke pankeruhakshi vicakshano mayi madhu-ripur dosha-sreni-vihara-vana-sriyam
akalita-rasah suci-viddho rajah prasarandha-dhir
na madhupa-yuva kim ketakyam viraktim upaishyati
Radhika: (Grieving, She say in Sanskrit) O lotus-eyed girl, I fear that because I am a playground for a host of faults, expert and intelligent Krishna is now averse to Me. Stung by thorns, blinded by pollen, and not finding any nectar, why should a young bumble-bee not turn from a ketaki flower?
TEXT 13 (a)
paurnamasi: na hi candrena candrikaya mokshah kadapi sambhavati.
Paurnamasi: The moon can never be separated from moonlight.
TEXT 13 (b)
visakha: hala samassasa. tuha ukkanthidam takki-a ma-e kanha-pa-uttim vinnadum nandimuhi pesidatthi.
Visakha: Please calm down. I thought You would be very anxious and so I sent Nandimukhi to discover what Krishna is doing now.
TEXT 13 (c)
(pravisya)
nandimukhi: (sanskritena)
mrdur api nisargatas tvam
katham ardre madhave kathorasi
athava navanita-puti
hima-drave kakkhata praikshi
(Nandimukhi enters).
Nandimukhi: (In Sanskrit) By nature You are gentle. Why are You so hard on this poor Madhava (Krishna)?
You are hard as butter frozen into ice.
TEXT 14 (a)
radhika: hala abi nama suham vattadi mahavo.
Radhika: Is Madhava happy now?
TEXT 14 (b)
nandimukhi: (sanskritena)
kshanam api na suhrdbhir narma-gosthim vidhatte
racayati na ca cudam campakanam cayena
param iha mura-vairi yogivan mukta-bhogas
tava sakhi mukha-candram cintayan nirvrnoti
Nandimukhi: (In Sanskrit) He will not joke with His friends for even a moment, and He will not wear His crown of campaka flowers. Renouncing all sense-gratification, Krishna has become like a yogi meditating on Your moonlike face. In this way He experiences great transcendental bliss.
TEXT 15
radhika: (visakham parisvajya. sanskritena)
bhuyo bhuyah kali-vilasitaih saparadhapi radha
slaghyenaham yad agha-ripuna badham angi-kritasmi
tatra kshamodari kim aparam karanam vah sakhinam
dattamodam praguna-karuna-manjarim antarena
Radhika: (Embracing Visakha, She says in Sanskrit:) Again and again this Radha has quarreled with Krishna and offended Him. Glorious Krishna is still willing to accept Me back. O slender-waisted girl, what reason is there for His taking Me back other than the delightful flower blossom of the great mercy of you, My friends?
TEXT 16
nepathye:
garvodagrah kalam avilakam tanvatam anya-pusta
nispratyuham mrga-yuvatayah sasyam asvadayantu
simantinyo grha-nayamayim silayantu pranalim
dhurto venur viharati kare nadya pitambarasya
A Voice From Behind the Scenes: Now the cuckoos may proudly coo, the young does may eat grass without any interruption, and the gopis may walk on the paths leading to their homes, for at this moment the villain flute does not play n the hand of Lord Krishna.
TEXT 17
radhika: (vamsim udghatya. sopalambham)
sad-vamshatas tava janih purushottamasya
panau sthitir muralike saralasi jatya
kasmat tvaya sakhi guror vishama grihita
gopangana-gana-vimohana-mantra-diksha
Radhika: (revealing the flute, She says with scorn:)
‘My dear friend the flute, it appears that you have been born of a very good family, for your residence in the hands of Sri Krishna. By birth you are simple and are not at all crooked. Why then have you taken initiation into this dangerous mantra that enchants the assembled gopis?'
TEXT 18 (a)
visakha: hala uccari-a i-am vamsi jam marudahimuhi-kida sa-am sadda-edi.
Visakha: When placed before the wind this flute plays music by itself.
TEXT 18 (b)
radhika: sahi parikkhassam. (iti tatha karoti).
Radhika: Friend, I shall test it. (She does that).
TEXT 18 (c)
visakha: sunijja-u mahura ka-ali. lalitam varehim asunodu kanhassa parivarah.
Visakha: Listen to the sweet sounds. Now Krishna's friends may also hear the flute.
TEXT 18 (d)
(pravisya)
vrinda: (pracchannam) bhagavati na kadapi vamsi deyeti srutam maya lalita-durmantritam.
(Vrinda enters).
Vrinda: (In private) O noble lady, I have heard that the flute should not be placed to the wind like this. Lalita has given you bad advise.
TEXT 18 (e)
paurnamasi: vatse yuktim ayatyam karisyami.
Paurnamasi: Child, I shall remedy this in the future.
TEXT 18 (f)
(pravisya)
jatila: nunam ido kanhena milidam jam murali vadida. (vilokya) avvo kaham vasahanavi-hatthe kanhassa vamsi. ta ninhudam gadu-a nam gehissam. (iti sahasopasritya samarsam) ayi duvvinida-go-ala-putti-e munca murali-am. (ity akrsya grhnati).
(Jatila enters).
Jatila: The flute was played. Is it not true that Krishna must be here? (Looking) Aha! The flute is in the hand of Maharaja Vrishabhanu's daughter Radha. I shall stealthily approach and take it. (Angry, she quickly approaches) O immoral gopi, give up the flute. (She pulls the flute away).
TEXT 18 (g)
lalita: haddhi pamado. kadham vuddhi-a atakkidam murali a-atthida.
Lalita: Alas! A calamity! How is it that the old lady unexpectedly pulled away the flute?
TEXT 18 (h)
jatila: nam kkhu bha-avadi-e paurnamasi-e damsa-issam ja majja bhanidam na patthi-a-edi.
Jatila: I will show it to the noble Paurnamasi. If I were only to tell her she would not believe me.
TEXT 18 (i)
paurnamasi: putri vrinde gahanam kastam apatitam. pasya jatila mamotaja-disam prayati.
Paurnamasi: O daughter Vrinda, this is a great calamity. Look! Jatila is going in the direction of my cottage.
TEXT 18 (j)
vrinda: bhagavati ma cintaya. kshipram asau muralim lunthayami. (iti nishkranta).
Vrinda: O noble lady, don't worry. In a moment I'll rob her of this flute. (She exits).
TEXT 18 (k)
lalita: (sa-bhayam anusritya) ajje kisa ali-am sankasi jam esa kalindi-kulamhi amhehi laddha.
Lalita: (timorously following behind) O noble lady, why have you become suspicious? We found this flute on the shore of the Yamuna.
TEXT 18 (l)
jatila: (sa-rosam) cabale dumhantini cittha cittha.
Jatila: (Angry) O fickle girl, O speaker of lies, stop! Stop!
TEXT 18 (m)
(pravisya)
subalah: ajje jadile pekkha dahi-lampada makkadi tujjha gharam pavisa-i.
(Subala enters).
Subala: O noble Jatila, look! The monkey who steals yogurt is now etering your house!
TEXT 18 (n)
jatila: (saci-grivam alokya) subala saccam kahesi. makkhana-corini esa makkadi. (iti paravritya dhavanti nishkranta).
Jatila: (tilting her neck, she looks) Subala, you speak the truth. That monkey is about to steal my stock of butter. (She changes directions and runs off).
TEXT 18 (o)
paurnamasi: nunam vrindaya preritasti kakkhatiyam nama jaran-markati.
Paurnamasi: Vrinda sent this old monkey named Kakkhati, did she not?
TEXT 18 (p)
subalah: nandimuhi pekkha. pakkhittena venuna mudha-jadila-e makkadi tadida.
Subala: Nandimukhi, look! Jatila became bewildered. She threw the flute at the monkey and hit her with it.
TEXT 18 (q)
paurnamasi: (sa-harsam) distya muralim adaya kakkhatiyam kadambam adhirudha.
Paurnamasi: (Happily) Fortunately this monkey Kakkhati has taken the flute and now climbed a kadamba tree.
TEXT 18 (r)
(sarvah praharsam natayanti).
(Everyone becomes happy).
TEXT 18 (s)
(pravisya)
jatila: haddhi vaccha subala hatthado me murali gada. ta tujjha ninamchanam jami. samappehi me vamsi-am.
(Jatila enters).
Jatila: Alas! Subala, my child, the flute is no longer in my hand. I request you; bring me the flute.
TEXT 18 (t)
subalah: ajje jahattha-nama esa kakkhati ke-alam tujjha bahini-puttado visalado bha-edi. ta govahdhana-singe khelantam nam gadu-a abhyatthehi.
Subala: Kakkhati is a good name for this monkey. O noble lady, this monkey si afraid of only one person: Your nephew Visala. Visala is now playing on top of Govardhana Hill. Go you should go there and ask him to help.
TEXT 18 (u)
(jatila nishkranta).
(Jatila exits).
TEXT 18 (v)
paurnamasi: distya vyajena jaratim duram apasarya dhurto 'yam bhru-vibhramena lalitam tvarayati.
Paurnamasi: By good fortune the rascal Subala has now sent the old lady far away, and now, by knitting his eyebrows, he makes Lalita hastne here.
TEXT 18 (w)
lalita: (netra-prantam kunayanti) hala rahi ehi. venum maggamhe.
Lalita: (Glancing from the corners of her eyes) Radha, come. Let us search for the flute.
TEXT 18 (x)
radhika: (svagatam) ditthi-a ahisaredi mam.
Radhika: (Aside) By good luck now I shall be able to meet with Lord Krishna.
TEXT 18 (y)
(pravisyapati-kshepena)
mukhara: visakhe ahimannu sandisa-i ajja jo-iti-anam upadesena ma-e gomangala nama candi pu-anijja. ta pu-anopaharam ghetuna tumam cecca-rukkhassa tale rahi-am lambhaya tti.
(Tossing the backdrop curtain, aside, Mukhara hastily enters).
Mukhara: O Visakha, Abhimanyu said to me: "Today the astrologers have instructed me to worship the form of the goddess Durga named Gomangala. Please take the articles of worship and, bringing Radha with you, meet me under the caitya tree."
TEXT 18 (z)
radhika: (sa-khedam apavarya) hanta dudde-assa padi-ullam. (iti lalita-mukham ikshate).
Radhika: (Unhappily She says to Herself, concealing Her words from other's ears) Alas! Misfortune of misfortunes! (She gazes at Lalita's face).
TEXT 18 (aa)
lalita: hala sacca-nama eso ahimannu. ta gadu-a pu-anobaharam campademhi.
Lalita: Ah! The name Abhimanyu (angry) fits him perfectly. Let us go and assemble the paraphernalia of worship.
TEXT 18 (bb)
(iti sarva nishkrantah).
(Everyone exits).
TEXT 18 (cc)
paurnamasi: (subalam anusritya sa-vyatham) vatsa duhsamadhaneyam gatir upasthita. tad adya vrindaya saha gatva samasvasyatam tvaya patavena pundarikakshah. maya tu pramanika-purandhrinam gostim asadya jatila-kautilyam varnayisyate. (iti nishkranta).
Paurnamasi: (Approaching Subala, she says, with anxiety) Child, this is a great calamity. Now you and Vrinda should go to lotus-eyed Krishna and expertly console Him, and I shall go to the elderly women and describe to them the diplomatic crookedness of Jatila. (She exits).
TEXT 18 (dd)
subalah: (parikramya) esa tamala-tale dahina-hatthe gahida-vamsi-a vunda cittha-i.
Subala: (Walking) There is Vrinda standing under a tamala tree and holding the flute in her right hand.
TEXT 18 (ee)
(pravisya)
vrinda: bhoh subala vilokita-sarvarthasmi. tad alam tad-vartaya.
(Vrinda enters).
Vrinda: Subala, I have already seen everything. What need is there of telling me what has happened?
TEXT 18 (ff)
subalah: vunde turi-am ehi. venum jevva ubaharamha.
Subala: Vrinda, let us go at once. Let us bring the flute to Krishna.
TEXT 18 (gg)
(ity ubhau parikramatah).
(They both walk).
TEXT 18 (hh)
subalah: vunde mahumangalena vaddhidukkantho pi-a-va-asso maggam jje-a pekkhanto cittha-i. ta na jane akidatthanam amhanam tattha gamane ka tassa dasa bhave.
Subala: Vrinda, there is Krishna gazing at the path. Madhumangala is increasing His desire to meet Radha. I do not know what will be His response when He learns that our mission has failed?
TEXT 18 (ii)
vrinda: subala satyam bravisi. pasyayam punnaga-taror upakanthe samutkanthate kamsarih.
Vrinda: Subala, you speak the truth. Look! There is Krishna standing under a punnaga tree and anxiously waiting for Radha.
TEXT 18 (jj)
subalah: vunde bhanami. cintehi juttim
Subala: Vrinda, think of a solution.
TEXT 18 (kk)
vrinda: (vimraya) subala govindasya kshana-vinodaya cintitopayasmi. tad ehi, tan-nispattaye vesam bhajavah. (iti nishkrantau).
Vrinda: (Thinking) Subala, I know how we may cheer up Govinda for a moment. Come. To do this we must first disguise ourselves. (The both exit).
TEXT 18 (ll)
(tatah pravisati madhumangalenopasyamanah krishnah).
krishnah: (sautsukyam)
radha purah sphurati pascimatas ca radha
radhadhisavyam iha dakshinatas ca radha
radha khalu kshiti-tale gagane ca radha
radha-mayi mama babhuva kutas tri-loki
(Followed by Madhumangala, Krishna enters).
Krishna: (filled with longing) In front of Me is Radha. Behind Me is Radha. To My left is Radha. To My right is Radha. On the earth is Radha. In the sky is Radha. How is it that the three worlds have suddenly become Radha?
TEXT 19 (a)
madhumangalah: pi-a-va-assa bha-avadi-e ahisaridam danim jevva pekkhissasi rahi-am.
Madhumangala: Soon the noble Paurnamasi will bring Radhika here. Soon You will see Radhika.
TEXT 19 (b)
krishnah:
karenantas tushtya sa-lalitam avashtabhya lalita-
karangushtham radha bhrisham abhisaranti sa-rabhasam
kim adya smerakshi smara-parimalollasi-valaya-
dhvanir mam nirmasyaty anupama-camatkara-catulam
Krishna: Will smiling eyed Radha, happy at heart, playfully holding Lalita's thumb in Her hand as She eagerly walks to the rendezvous, and tinkling sound of Her bracelets bearing the fragrance of conjugal desire, soon make Me tremble with unparalleled wonder?
TEXT 20 (a)
madhumangalah: bho bho ma uttammassa. kankana-jhanakaro succa-i.
Madhumangala: Oh! Oh! Don't despair. I hear the tinkling of ankle-bells.
TEXT 20 (b)
(nepathye)
hala lalide pekkha. sa eso punna-a-rukkho disa-i. (punas tatraiva) sahi rahe dhittha-bhamara-jampidam pekkha nam. ta kkhanam idha jjevva citthamha.
A Voice From Behind the Scenes: Lalita, look! Here is a punnaga tree. Look at the agressive, buzzing bees. Let us stop here for a moment.
TEXT 20 (c)
madhumangalah: (sa-capalam) bho pi-a-va-assa vamado kim na pecchasi. esa lalida-e saddham rahi-a sama-ada.
Madhumangala: (restless) O dear friend, do You not see? Radhika has come here with Lalita.
TEXT 20 (d)
krishnah: (sotkantham) distya sakshad adya mad-ikshanayoh saukhyam vistaryate sakhya.
Krishna: (With feelings of longings) How fortunate I am. My gopi-friend now brings great happiness to My eyes.
TEXT 20 (e)
madhumangalah: (sa-garvam) bho kisa na vittharidavvam jattha aham vi-addho dudo mhi.
Madhumangala: (Proud) Why should You not become happy? After all, I am the most expert of messengers.
TEXT 20 (f)
krishnah: sakhe purah-sthayor mat-priyayor avyalikata nadyapy avadharita. yad abhyam ne sannidhiyate.
Krishna: My beloved Radha and Lalita no longer love Me. Although they both stand before Me they remain at a distance and will not approach Me.
TEXT 20 (g)
madhumangalah: pi-a-va-assa sutthu pasannam rahim janahi. jam sadi-ancala-jhampida murali jhalakka-i.
Madhumangala: My dear friend, You should know that Radha is definitely pleased with You. She holds Your flute in the corner of Her sari.
TEXT 20 (h)
krishnah: (sa-sneham)
vidhur eti diva virupatam
sata-patram bata sarvari-mukhe
iti kena sada sriyojjvalam
tulanam arhati mat-priyananam
(iti sa-kautukam anusarpati).
Krishna: (With love)
‘Although the effulgence of the moon is brilliant initially at night, in the daytime it fades away. Similarly, although the lotus is beautiful during the daytime, at night it closes. But, O My friend, the face of My most dear Shrimati Radharani is always bright and beautiful, both day and night. Therefore, to what can Her face be compared?'
(He eagerly approaches).
TEXT 21 (a)
(nepathye)
varisahana-i lacchi i-am puro ra-ini samuggama-i canda-ali-kutumha-aca-ora ma dha-a suppasaham
A Voice From Behind the Scenes:
Translation 1
The reddish splendor of the sun resting in the constellation Taurus now rises in the sky. O cakora bird who lives by drinking the moonlight of Candravali, do not run so hastily to this rising sun.
Translation 2
The goddess of fortune who is the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu, and who dearly loves You has now come to this place. O cakora bird who lives by drinking the moonlight of Candravali, do not run so hastily to Vrsabhanu's daughter.
Translation 3
The goddess of fortune who is the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu, and who is now angry with You. has come to this place; O cakora bird who lives by drinking the moonlight of Candravali, do not run so hastily to Vrsabhanu's daughter.
Note: In this verse the word "varsabhanavi" may mean "the sun (bhanu) who rests in the constellation Taurus (vrsa)", or it may also mean "the daughter of Maharaja Vrsabhanu". "Ragini" may mean "red", "red with anger", or "filled with love".
