Why does Sri Lilâshuk call Sri Krishna ‘emerald-like’ although He has a blue complexion?
When Murali-Manohar encounters the Vraja Gopis, their golden splendour mingles with His blue sapphire-like complexion and makes Him look like an emerald. E.g.-
“Sri Krishna looked exceptionally beautiful on the Râs-floor and He dazzled like an exquisite emerald amidst golden gems.”
- (S.B. 10.33.6)
“Srimati Râdhârâni’s lightning-like lustre makes Sri Krishna’s splendour resemble an emerald and Sri Krishna’s effulgence too lends a brilliant green shade to Sri Râdhâ. Only when They reside separately, They express golden and blue splendours respectively.” – (Alankâr-kaustubh)
This is the reason why Srimati is experiencing His complexion as emerald-like. His naturally sweet face is lit up with an appealing smile. His eyes are large and reaching the ears. They are moving restlessly and His eyebrows are dancing. His eyes are thirstily searching for Her.
“His sparkling dark beauty has pierced my heart and I cannot hold it anymore. I can not imagine how many moons were squeezed to yield how much nectar that were used to make up that face!
His lips are like bândhuli and perpetually carry a smile, which is like a flash of lightning across the lap of fresh clouds. It drowns all our honour and dignity.
His eyebrows are like the bows of Kâmdev, that are always poised to shoot, while the tips of His eyes have the shade of cinnabar and ever since He glanced at me from the rosy corner of those eyes, I see nothing but Shyâm everywhere.
O sakhi! When I climbed up the banks of the Yamunâ, what a wonderful vision I had of Shyâm! Poet Gyâna dâs says – He is sheer nectar – That Son of Nanda from Gokul.”
Sri Krishna’s words are as soothing as His kaishor. He attracts the heart and soul of the fair sex of Vraja.
“(His) each and every word exudes nectar – they are all mantras meant to bewitch decent ladies, so that they stay awake all day and night sighing heavily and wishing for death. They constantly keep remembering His style of walking (in half steps) and thus they are full of anguish. He has stuck Himself stubbornly in the middle of the heart within my heart – tell me O sakhi, what do I do?” - [Balarâm dâs]
Explanation of ‘mathurâ’, ‘kah’ and ‘eshah’.
His gait, gaze and the amorous movements of His feet and hands are more praiseworthy than those of an intoxicated elephant are. Also, He is called ‘Mathurâ’, because He agitates (manthan) the hearts of the onlookers. Hence, in this verse, ‘Mathurâ’ refers to Sri Krishna Who is appearing on the pathway to the kunja and Sri Râdhâ is seeing Him, and does not refer to “Mathurâ – the city’. Hence this part of the verse means Who (kah) is this (eshah) Mathurâ (agitator of my heart)? Everything about Him – His crown of peacock feathers, built, face, eyes, sweet speech, amorous movements – agitate the hearts of the onlookers – Who is He, slowly approaching thekunja, on the paths of Vrindâvan?
In his siddha-swarup, Sri Lilâshuk is standing close to Sri Râdhârâni and describing Sri Krishna’s beauty in a charming manner to the surrounding sakhis. As a sâdhak, Sri Lilâshuk had a sphurti of Sri Krishna as he entered Mathurâ and he has described Sri Krishna’s sweet beauty in this verse. He has used the word ‘Oye’ as an expression of amazement. Who is this entering the kunja-way in Vrindâvan? Whose eyes are playful with love-intoxication?
Srila Bhatta Goswâmipâd says, Sri Lilâshuk contemplated very deeply on Sri Krishna. Therefore, he got a ‘sphurti’ of Sri Krishna and he has described His sweetness in this verse. ‘Oye’ means ‘Aho!’ Who is arriving ‘mitho gâhate’ (solitarily in an amorous manner)? Here ‘mathura-veethi’ does not mean the roads of Mathurâ. To prove this Srila Goswâmipâd has quoted Sri Gopâlottara-tapani Shruti as follows:
“mathyate jagat sarvang tu brahma-gyânena yena va,
tat-sara-bhutang yad yasyang mathura sa nigadyate.”
Meaning – “Mathurâ is the condensed form of the Brahma-gyân that agitates all creation.”
This means that Sri Lilâshuk is describing Sri Krishna in a very loving manner. He has a vision of Sri Krishna because of his deep love. When he saw Him more clearly, he said‘maulish-chandraka-bhushanah’, meaning, ‘He is wearing a crown of peacock feathers’. His body is more beautiful than an emerald pillar. Actually, Sri Krishna’s bodily splendour resembles a sapphire, but He looks like an emerald when He reflects the golden light from His ornaments. Then Lilâshuk got a closer vision and said –‘vaktram chitra-vimugdha-hasa-madhuram’. ‘Chitra’ means ‘most amazing’,‘vimugdha’ means ‘especially beautiful’. Therefore, especially beautiful smiles are making His face appears like a sweet ras, no, the very embodiment of sweetness! Also, His eyes are soft and naturally playful. He heard some words and said ‘vachah shaishava-sheetala’, meaning, ‘His speech is sweet and soothing’. Then he ascertained that He is none other than Sri Krishna and said – ‘mada-gaja-shlaghya vilasa-sthitih’, meaning, ‘Whose bodily movements are more praiseworthy than those of an intoxicated elephant”. He walks as if He is the master of the earth on which He steps, just as a carefree elephant takes strong strides in the forest he owns.
Sri Chaitanyadâs has explained ‘mithah’ as ‘companions’, which means, ‘He is walking with slow dalliance, and the Gopis who have taken shelter unto Him are accompanying Him.
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