Gita Govinda - Meeting of Sakhi with Krsna
Song by Jayadeva Gosvami
When Radha saw Krsna enjoying affectionate exchanges with all the cowherd maidens in the groves of Vrndavana, she became indignant because he had not acknowledged her eminence. She immediately departed for another part of the forest and hid herself inside a shady bower that resounded with the drone of bumblebees.
yamuna-tira-vaniranikunje
mandam asthitam
praha prema-bharodbhrantam
madhavam radhika-sakhi
Translation
Bewildered by love for Radha, Krsna was sitting in a dense grove on the Yamuna riverside feeling deeply depressed. Radha’s dear friend began to speak to him as follows.
nindati candanam indu-kiranam anu vindati khedam adhiram
vyala-nilaya-milanena garalam iva kalayati malaya-samiram
sa virahe tava dina
madhava manasija-visikha-bhayad iva bhavanaya tvayi lina (refrain) (1)
Translation
“O Madhava! Radha is experiencing intense suffering in separation from you. She is so afraid of the incessant rain of Madana’s arrows that she has resorted to dhyana-yoga to find relief from this slow-burning fire of distress. She has unconditionally surrendered to you and now she is completely immersed in you by the practice of meditation. In your absence, she criticizes sandalwood paste. When she sees the rays of the moon, she feels as if her body is burning and the Malaya breeze even increases the heat. She also considers the breeze from the Malaya Mountains to be like poison because it is mixed with the hissing of venomous snakes who reside around the sandalwood trees there.”
avirala-nipatita-madana-sarad iva bhavad-avanaya visalam
sva-hrdaya-marmani varma karoti sajala-nalini-dala-jalam
sa virahe tava dina... (2)
Translation
“The arrows of Kamadeva are falling incessantly upon her heart. Since you are also present there (in her heart), she is making a mystical shield (kavaca) to protect you by covering her vulnerable heart with large lotus petals bearing droplets of water.”
kusuma-visikha-sara-talpam analpa-vilasa-kala-kamaniyam
vratam iva tava parirambha-sukhaya karoti kusuma-sayaniyam
sa virahe tava dina... (3)
Translation
“Madhava! Radha is making a delightful flower bed, suitable for the enjoyment of many amorous pastimes. Yet it seems to be a bed of Kamadeva’s arrows. She is performing severe austerities in the form of a vow to recline on a bed of arrows in the hope of attaining your deep embrace.”
vahati ca valita-vilocana-jaladharam anana-kamalam udaram
vidhum iva vikata-vidhuntuda-danta-dalana-galitamrta-dharam
sa virahe tava dina... (4)
Translation
“Just as a current of nectar began to flow from the moon after it was bitten by the terrible gaping mouth of Rahu, similarly an incessant stream of tears is flowing from the restless eyes of Sri Radha’s exceptionally attractive lotus face.”
vilikhati rahasi kuranga-madena bhavantam asamasara-bhutam
pranamati makaram adho vinidhya kare ca saram nava-cutam
sa virahe tava dina... (5)
Translation
“O Sri Krsna, in a secluded place, Radha is painting a picture of your captivating form in musk, considering you to be Kamadeva himself. After depicting you with mango-bud arrows in your hand and riding upon a makara, she bows
down to offer respectful obeisances to your portrait.”
prati-padam idam api nigadati madhava tava carane patitaham
tvayi vimukhe mayi sapadi sudha-nidhir api tanute tanu-daham
sa virahe tava dina... (6)
Translation
“O Madhava, after painting a picture of you in this form, Radha pleads again and again, ‘Hey Sri Krsna! I am falling at your feet. As soon as you become indifferent to me, even the moon-god Candrama, with his chalice of nectar, begins to shower fire upon my body.’”
dhyana-layena purah parikalpya bhavantam ativa durapam
vilapati hasati visidati roditi cancati muncati tapam
sa virahe tava dina... (7)
Translation
“Sri Radha is completely absorbed in meditation on you. She imagines that you are directly before her. Sometimes she laments in separation, sometimes she expresses jubilation, sometimes she cries and sometimes she abandons all
suffering by being embraced in a momentary vision.”
sri-jayadeva-bhanitam idam adhikam yadi manasa nataniyam
hari-virahakula-ballava-yuvati-sakhi-vacanam pathaniyam
sa virahe tava dina... (8)
Translation
This song composed by Sri Jayadeva, based on the words spoken by Radha’s dear friend, should be enacted within the temple of the heart. The sakhi’s description of Radha’s anguish in separation from Sri Hari are worthy of constant recitation.
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