Saturday, July 10, 2021

21st ASHTAPADI--JAYADEVA

 The pangs of separation between Radha and Krishna are now over! Radha has described in detail how she suffered in the absence of Krishna. She has become almost mad and considered herself as dead! She had searched for Krishna in all directions but in vain! Her torment had redoubled when her maid narrated to her the fun that Krishna had elsewhere! Again and again she thought about Krishna and somehow satisfied herself. She went to the rendezvous and was disappointed as Krishna didn’t appear! All these troubles and disappointment are now things of the past! Krishna has also suffered enough! He felt guilty in making Radha suffer! Now the time is ripe for the union of the Divine couple! Extremely delighted at the oncoming union of Radha and Madhava, her maid suggests how she should approach Krishna and what she should do! Jayadeva, in this ASHTAPADI, makes the maid address Radha in the following words! 


“ O Radha! With garlands of pearls dangling over your big breasts, enjoy and play with Krishna in the great  cottage where a new bed has been prepared with the petals of Asoka tree!”


“ With delicate body like the freshly blossomed flower, O Radha! Have fun and play with Madhusudana at the bush cottage in the inner chamber decked with flowers!”


O Radha! Blessed with the music of intoxicated bees, play with your black Krishna in the cottage cooled by the gentle breeze”—'Malaya marutha'


 “O Radha! You have the purest, bright and sparkling teeth! In this season of Vasantha or Spring, the cottage is reverberating with the sound of moving cuckoos!  Play and enjoy yourself with Madana Gopala!”


“O Radha! Endowed with big breasts and buttacks, enjoy yourself  in this bush cottage dense with varieties of creepers and tender shoots!”


“ O Radha! Egged on by the force of the arrows of Manmatha, you are anxious for union with Krishna!  Enjoy and play with Krishna in the cottage filled with the buzzing of the bees that are happy in drinking the honey!”


“ O Radha! Even as poet Jayadeva, happy in association with Padmavati Devi, sings this song, please approach Madhava and enjoy yourself!” 


“ O Radha! Krishna has waited for you for long and thinks about you! He is very much tired and anxious to drink deep the nectar of your lips! Adorn His thighs for a while! Krishna is capable of granting wealth and all prosperity by the movement of His eyebrows to His devotees that worship His feet! Why are you afraid of Him?”


Thus with trepidation and joy, immersed in the thought of Krishna with the sound of ringing anklets, Radha entered the cottage for union and play with Krishna!





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