Sree Bhajana – Rahasya -10

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Sree Bhajana Rahasya


7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
another and becomes prominent) and bhäva-çänti (pacification
of an extremely powerful bhäva) create waves in this ocean of
separation.
Rädhä, who is mad in separation (viraha-unmädiné), addressed
Kåñëa in extreme humility: “Ayi déna-dayärdra-nätha! O Kåñëa,
You are very simple-hearted and affectionate. It is You who
remove the sorrows of the residents of Vraja, so please bestow
Your mercy upon Me. You give mercy to all living entities, thus
protecting them from all distress, so why will You not give mercy
to Me, who am separated from My master? If You do not bestow
Your mercy upon Me, Your reputation as ‘He who removes the
distress of the residents of Vraja’ will become disgraced. Only
You are My beloved.” This is why the word nätha, meaning
“master”, is used in this çloka.
In this ocean of separation, though, there is a towering wave
that represses this feeling of humility (dainya) and manifests the
mood of envy (asüyä) and contrariness (mäna) due to jealousy.
Now Çré Rädhä addresses Çyämasundara as Mathuränätha, “the
Lord of Mathurä”. “O Mathuränätha, why would You be merciful
to us now? How can You remember us while You are in Mathurä,
where hundreds of affectionate, beautiful ladies serve You?
Surely You have forgotten us milkmaids. Since You are receiving
so much honour from the fabulously opulent kings of Mathurä,
how can You have time to remember us wretched persons? By
the association of Mathurä’s Yädavas, Your heart has also
become hard. Why would it melt upon seeing the condition of us
gopés, who are distressed in separation?”
Speaking thus, Çré Rädhä becomes momentarily stunned, and
the saïcäri-bhäva of dainya again appears. She says, “O beloved
(dayita)! O Çyämasundara, You are more dear to us than our own
lives. How can we forget Your loving dealings? When we would
become tired during the räsa dance, You would wipe away our
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
drops of perspiration with Your own pétämbara. And if our
kuìkuma stained the pétämbara, You would lovingly hold it to
Your heart. When You left us You said, ‘I will return.’ With this
assurance we remain alive. But having to wonder whether You
will return or not confuses us, so please give us some consolation.
Our hearts are intensely restless to see Your moon-like
face.”
Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura writes that the topmost bhajana is
to follow the vraja-devés’ moods of separation from Çré Kåñëa.
Text 8
Agitated by separation from Çré Kåñëa, the gopés blame Vidhätä
(Providence). Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.39.19) describes:
aho vidhätas tava na kvacid dayä
saàyojya maitryä praëayena dehinaù
täàç cäkåtärthän viyunaìkñy apärthakaà
vikréòitaà te ’rbhaka-ceñöitaà yathä
O Vidhätä, you are the arranger of everything, but there is not
even a trace of mercy in your heart. First you unite living entities
in this world in friendship and love, but before they can fulfil
their desires and hopes, you pointlessly separate them while they
are still unsatisfied. The truth is that, like the play of a child, this
whimsical behaviour of yours is useless.
vidhätaù he! nähi dayä kichu-i tomära
maitra-bhäve praëayete, dehé-dehé-saàyogete,
kena eta kaile avicära?
akåtärtha-avasthäya, viyoga karile häya,
bälakera ceñöä e vyäpära
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
The vraja-devés, whose hearts have been seized by Çré Kåñëa, are
distressed in fear of impending separation from Him. They have
heard that Akrüra has come with a chariot to take their
präëakänta Çyämasundara to Mathurä. Tormented by the fear of
future separation, the vraja-devés, speaking to like-minded gopés,
express their own special sentiments of love and afflictions of
separation, and in doing so reveal the helplessness of their
prema.
“Çré Kåñëa is going to Madhupuré!” Hearing this, the lustre of
Bhadrä’s lotus face and the lotus faces of the other taöasthägopés
3 withered and became dejected. Çyämalä’s and other suhåtpakñä-
gopés’ dresses, belts, hair and so on loosened. In samädhi,
Candrävalé, who is vipakñä, began to see Çré Govinda in her
heart, which was lost in meditation. The crown jewel of all the
vraja-gopés, mahäbhäva-vaté Çrématé Rädhikä, other svapakñägopés
like Lalitä and Viçäkhä, and other beloveds of Çré Kåñëa,
envisioned in their hearts their präëa-priyatama’s various
prema-viläsa – His behaviour, dealings, laughter, glances and so
forth. Then, overwhelmed by the deep pain of separation from
Him, they began to weep.
In different groups the gopés express their own innermost
feelings according to their prema. Together in each group, they
voice the deep pain of separation: “If our life-airs leave our
bodies due to the pain of separation from Çré Kåñëa, Vidhätä is
solely responsible. O Vidhätä, you rule the entire universe very
well, but is there no arrangement for compassion in your kingdom?
If you had ever just once contemplated justice or injustice,
3
The four groups of gopés are as follows: (1) taöastha-pakñä, those who are
neutral towards Çré Rädhä; (2) suhåt-pakñä, those who are friendly to Çré Rädhä;
(3) vipakñä, Çré Rädhä’s rivals; and (4) svapakñä, those who belong to Çré Rädhä’s
personal party.
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
you would not be so harsh. You arrange for the meeting and separation
of living beings according to a mere whim. You also
establish affectionate friendships between jévas, but only for a
moment do you let them relish the happiness of meeting before
You again submerge them in an ocean of separation. You are
heartless and cruel, and we are witness to this. Your behaviour is
like that of an ignorant child who makes toys and then afterwards
destroys them. Therefore, O Vidhätä, you are not only merciless,
unscrupulous and inconsiderate, you are also wicked. Your
present behaviour is highly contemptible. First, you created the
form of our präëakänta Mukunda, who embodies all beauty,
sweetness and charm, and who charms the entire universe, and
then you granted us darçana of that form, by which our hearts
experienced boundless love. However, after placing this
unprecedented form before our eyes, you again removed it and
took our präëakänta far away. Such deceit is not proper; only a
wicked person acts like this. Why do you behave sinfully even
though you are so wise and learned? Are you not committing the
sin of taking back that which you have given?”
Text 9
For a person attached to Kåñëa, even a moment of separation
from Him is intolerable. Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.39.29) states:
yasyänuräga-lalita-smita-valgu-mantralélävaloka-
parirambhaëa-räsa-goñöhyäm
nétäù sma naù kñaëam iva kñaëadä vinä taà
gopyaù kathaà nv atitarema tamo durantam
Sakhés, by His captivating, affectionate smile, sweet, intimate conversations,
playful glances and loving embraces, the long, long
nights of the räsa-lélä passed in a moment. Indeed, how can we
now overcome the boundless anguish of separation from Him?
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
anuräga-vilokita, valgu-mantra-sulalita,
smita-äliìgana räsa-sthale
brahma-rätra kñane gela, tabu tåpti nä haila,
ebe kåñëa-viraha ghaöila
gopéra emana dina kemane yäibe
duùkhera sägare òübe präëa häräibe
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
When Çré Kåñëa was about to depart for Mathurä, the vraja-gopés,
who were distressed by the fear of imminent separation from
Him, began to lament and reproach Vidhätä (Providence) in
various ways. They said, “Today cruel (krüra) Vidhätä has
arrived in Vraja, bearing the name Akrüra (not cruel). We gave up
our families and religious principles, and offered our everything
unto the lotus feet of our präëakänta Çyämasundara. Now what
will happen to us? Oh! Destiny is unfavourable to us! There is no
means of protection from this.”
Another gopé said, “O sakhé, today we shall give up all shame
and hesitation; we will somehow put a stop to Govinda’s journey.
Seeing our boldness and independence, all of our relatives
will be displeased, our family elders will not tolerate our shamelessness
and our family friends will punish us, threaten us with
death, or forcibly evict us from our homes. But sakhé, we have
already given up the attachment to home and bodily relationships.
If we are put out of our homes, it will be auspicious for us,
because then we will easily attain the company of Govinda. We
shall give up our homes and roam here and there with Him. Even
if they punish us with death there will be no loss, because it is
better to die than be separated from Govinda. If they lock us in
our homes we will die happily, meditating on Govinda.
Therefore sakhé, why wait? Go quickly! Do not delay in putting a
stop to Govinda’s journey.”
While Çré Kåñëa’s beloveds lamented in the burning heat of
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
separation, they fell unconscious. At that time, happy memories
of meeting began to awaken in their hearts, where the previous
night of räsa manifested. Çré Kåñëa’s gentle, sweetly smiling and
loving lotus face, His affectionate, charming conversations and
His affectionate, strong embrace manifested on the screen of
their hearts, and that night seemed to pass very slowly. The
thought of being deprived of Çré Kåñëa’s sweet company, the pain
of separation, seemed like countless forest fires. The gopés
lamented, “How can we cross this ocean of suffering? How can
we remain alive in separation from our präëakänta? In the afternoon,
when Çré Kåñëa, surrounded by the cowherd boys, returns
home from the forest, the beauty of His face is unprecedented.
The indescribable sound of the muralé and His sidelong glances
stir our hearts. His face, which is covered by the dust that has
been raised by the cows’ hooves, His curly locks of hair, the
extraordinarily beautiful garland of forest flowers around His
neck, and His sidelong glances all reveal His love-filled desires.
How can we forget all our loving exchanges?”
That day Çré Kåñëa prepared to go to Mathurä, leaving the gopés
behind. Who can express their deep anguish? When the time for
departure came, the barrier of their patience broke and they all
assembled, loudly expressing the great pain in their hearts by
incessantly wailing, “O Govinda! O Dämodara! O Mädhava!”
Text 10
Çré Rädhä’s strong expressions of separation from Çré Kåñëa are
described in Haàsadüta (2):
yadä yäto gopé-hådaya-madano nanda-sadanän
mukundo gändhinyäs tanayam anurundhan madhu-purém
tadämäìkñéc cintä-sariti ghana-ghürëäparicayair
agädhäyäà bädhämaya-payasi rädhä-virahiëé
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
Upon the request of Akrüra, Çré Kåñëacandra, who gladdens the
gopés’ hearts, departed Nanda-bhavana for Mathurä. Now separated
from Her lover, Çré Rädhikä became greatly agitated and
was completely submerged in a river of anxiety, which was full
of deep whirlpools of unlimited suffering.
gopikä-hådaya-hari, vraja chäòi’ madhupuré,
akrüra-sahita yabe gelä
tabe rädhä virahiëé, ghana-ghürëa-taraìgiëé,
cintä-jale agädhe paòilä
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
In his book Haàsadüta, Çré Rüpa Gosvämipäda gives an incomparable
description of the vraja-ramaëé’s feelings of separation
(vipralambha-rasa) that resulted from Çré Kåñëa’s residing in a
distant place (sudüra-praväsa). In çåìgara-rasa, vipralambharasa
is most relishable. Çré Rüpa Gosvämipäda has enabled
rasika devotees to dive deep into the ocean of vipralambha-rasa
by writing about the waves of separation that arose in all the
limbs of Çré Rädhä’s body, Her incoherent conversations in
divyonmäda, and Her sorrowful speech, which were all due to
blazing (süddépta) sättvika transformations.
The very bliss of the vraja-gopés’ hearts, Çré Nanda-nandana,
was taken to Mathurä by Akrüra, whose name means “not cruel”.
Actually, however, Akrüra was supremely cruel, and as a
consequence, all the gopés drowned in a bottomless ocean of
separation (viraha).
One day the crown jewel of the gopés, the personification of
mahäbhäva, Çré Rädhä, overwhelmed by feelings of separation
from Kåñëa, went to the bank of the Yamunä with Çré Lalitä and
other sakhés to soothe Her affliction. However, just by again
seeing the kuïjas where Their playful pastimes took place, Çré
Rädhä fainted, distressed by the burning fire of that separation.
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
The sakhés lifted Her up and laid Her on a bed of lotus petals. Çré
Lalitä fanned Her with the end of her veil and the sakhés chanted
the names of Kåñëa. By fanning Her and anointing Her with
cooling sandalwood paste, they tried to bring Her back to
consciousness.
Impatient, Çré Lalitä went to bring Her cool water from the
Yamunä. There, she saw an extremely beautiful, white, male
swan. An inspiration arose in her to send a message to präëavallabha
Çré Kåñëa about the incidents that were destroying the
life of her dear sakhé, Çré Rädhä. She understood that this male
swan (haàsa) would be a suitable messenger (düta), and she
politely petitioned him to go to Mathurä. While describing the
main road, she remembered previous pastimes with Kåñëa. She
mentioned these pastimes to the swan, thus making him thoroughly
understand all the sufferings in Çré Rädhä’s heart, which
was overwhelmed by separation from Kåñëa.
After Çré Kåñëa departed for Mathurä with Akrüra, Çré Rädhä
became submerged in a fathomless ocean of anxiety. She began
to think, “Shall I protect this life-air, which is burning in the fire
of agony, by binding it with the rope of hope? Or, shall I liberate
My body from this rope? As Präëanätha left Våndävana, He said,
Äyäsya iti dautyakai – I will return the day after tomorrow.’ But
the day after tomorrow has been replaced with many years, and
we still have not received news that He is coming. Shall I give up
that hope and choose death by entering fire or the waters of the
Yamunä?”
Çré Rädhikä further reflected, “When präëakänta Çyämasundara
returns from Mathurä and does not find Me here, He will become
so distressed. So what shall I do? My intelligence is perplexed. If
My präëanätha cannot see Me, He also will be unable to remain
alive. What shall I do? If I die, I will not see My priyatama’s soft,
delicate lotus face which resembles a kunda flower. But I am
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
unable to remain alive, as I am burning in separation. That Lord
of our lives has not abandoned us; therefore, it is only right that
I protect My life.” In this way, Çré Rädhä was submerged in the
boundless ocean of separation, in whirlpools of thoughts filled
with pain. The vraja-sundarés’ yearning to meet Kåñëa is a transformation
of their prema. It increases unlimitedly, exuding a
wonderful sweetness.
Çré Rüpa Gosvämipäda follows Çré Rädhä’s bhävas and
becomes one with them. He taunts Akrüra by using the word
gändhiné-tanaya, the son of Gändhiné, which has a double
meaning. Akrüra took birth from the womb of Gändhiné, the
daughter of the king of Käçé. He stayed in her womb for twelve
years, which caused her much pain. His father asked, “O child,
why are you not taking birth? Why are you making your mother
suffer like this?”
The child in the womb replied, “Father, if you give one cow to
each brähmaëa every day, I will take birth after one year.” His
father gave the cows as requested, and after one year, the child
took birth. The Puräëas state that a son who is named after his
father or his paternal grandfather is blessed, but that son who is
known by his mother’s name is wretched. In this Text, Çré Rüpa
Gosvämipäda indicates Akrüra’s cruel nature by making him
known through his mother, not his father. The Viñëu Puräëa
describes that Akrüra’s mother gave her family suffering, anxiety
and worry. Consequently, Akrüra, having the same qualities as
his mother, threw the gopés and Vrajaväsés into a limitless ocean
of grief.
This Text expresses cintä (anxious consideration) aroused in
the state of udghürëä in mohana-mahäbhäva. Cintä is one of
the ten stages of praväsa-vipralambha.
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Text 11
The ten conditions of viraha, separation, are described in
Ujjvala-nélamaëi:
cintätra jägärodvegau
tänavaà malinäìgatä
praläpo vyädhir unmädo
moho måtyur daçä daça
Ten conditions arise in viraha: (1) cintä (anxious consideration),
(2) jägara (sleeplessness), (3) udvega (agitation), (4) tänava
(emaciation of the body), (5) malinäìgatä (discolouring of
bodily limbs), (6) praläpa (incoherent speech), (7) vyädhi (being
stricken with a tormenting ailment), (8) unmäda (madness),
(9) moha (bewilderment) and (10) måtyu (death, or being
unconscious for a long time). At the stage of mohana, an extraordinary
condition manifests in Çré Rädhä, in which She experiences
extreme anguish of separation from Kåñëa.
jägara, udvega, cintä, tänaväìga-malinatä,
praläpa, unmäda ära vyädhi
moha, måtyu, daçä daça, tähe rädhä suvivaça,
päila duùkha-kulera avadhi
Text 12
While Çré Rädhä suffers from the scorching poison of viraha, She
expresses Her transcendental emotions, as described in
Jagannätha-vallabha-näöaka (3.9):
prema-ccheda-rujo ’vagacchati harir näyaà na ca prema vä
sthänästhänam avaiti näpi madano jänäti no durbaläù
anyo veda na cänya-duùkham akhilaà no jévanaà väçravaà
dvi-tréëy eva dinäni yauvanam idaà hä hä vidhe kä gatiù
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
Çré Hari does not understand the pain of separation in prema. In
fact, prema does not know anything about who is deserving of
itself and who is not. Kämadeva also torments us, knowing us to
be weak. It is impossible for anyone to understand another’s
misery. Life is so fleeting – it has no certainty – and youth remains
only two or three days. Alas! Alas! What kind of arrangement of
Vidhätä (the Creator) is this?
sakhé bale dhairya dhara, äsibe nägara-vara,
vyäkula haile kivä phala
rädhä bale ohe sakhi, patha ära nähi lakhi’,
prema-ccheda roga ye bäòila
latä väìcäite hari, nä äsila madhupuré,
prema nä bujhila sthänästhäna
niöhura känura preme, pa’òe geläma mahäbhrame,
madana tähäte häne bäëa
duùkha nä bujhila sakhi, jévana caïcala lakhi,
täte e yauvana-çobhä yäya
ära ki nägaramaëi, e braje äsibe dhani,
hä hä vidhi! ki habe upäya
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
Çré Räya Rämänanda gives the following description in his
Jagannätha-vallabha-näöaka. Once Çré Rädhä and Her sakhés
entered the Våndävana forest. The sakhés began to describe the
sweetness of Çré Kåñëa’s beauty with verses appropriate for
pürva-räga, such as so ’yaà yuvä yuvati-citta-vihaìga-çäkhé
(Jagannätha-vallabha-näöaka (1.50)). Çré Kåñëa spotted Rädhä
from a distance and They both became extremely restless to meet
each other. Rädhä sent a love-letter to Çré Kåñëa through
Çaçimukhé Sakhé. Although Çré Kåñëa became overwhelmed with
emotion upon reading it, He concealed His emotion and disrespected
Rädhä and the gopés with words of indifference: “It is
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
improper for women from good families to forsake their family
honour to love Me like this.”
Çaçimukhé returned to Çré Rädhikä, and relating all this to Her,
advised Rädhä to place Her attention elsewhere. This made Çré
Rädhä attain an unbearably severe state of viraha, and She conveyed
Her sentiments in this Text 12. Çré Rädhä said to the gopé
Madanikä, “Attracted by the incomparably beautiful form of Çré
Kåñëa, I was unable to remain patient, so I sent a letter to Him. O
sakhé, what was My fault in doing that? He is certainly crooked,
as His sole intention was to give Me a punishment equal to death.
First He attracted Me with the sweetness of His form and now He
is rejecting Me. O sakhé, you may ask, ‘Why do You feel affection
for Çré Kåñëa when He is very competent in killing women?’ but
what can I say? Hä hä vidhe kä gatiù. It is very difficult to understand
why Vidhätä gives a particular punishment to a particular
person. I loved Kåñëa for pleasure, but instead of Vidhätä giving
Me pleasure, he gave Me sorrow, and because of this My life-air
is now leaving Me.” This is also described in Çré Caitanyacaritämåta
(Madhya-lélä 2.20) as follows:
sakhi he, nä bujhiye vidhira vidhäna
sukha lägi’ kailuì préta, haila duùkha viparéta,
ebe yäya, nä rahe paräëa
O sakhé, I do not understand the regulative principles given by the
Creator. I loved Kåñëa for happiness, but the result was just the
opposite. I am now in an ocean of distress. It must be that I am
now going to die, for My vital force no longer remains. This is My
state of mind.
Çré Rädhä continues, “Sakhé Madanikä, the movement of
prema is crooked, like that of a snake, and it is foolish. It does
not consider whether the place is suitable or unsuitable, or if the
object is fit or unfit. This prema moves in a crooked way and has
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tied My hands, feet and neck with the ropes of that wicked one’s
beauty and virtues. I am unable to untie that knot.”
Çré Rädhä is so captivated by Çré Kåñëa’s qualities that it is
impossible for Her to abandon the hope of meeting Him. Her
condition is similar to that of a person who relishes the sweetness
of hot sugarcane so much that he cannot give up chewing it,
even if his mouth is burning. Moreover, She says, “Observing My
helpless condition, Madana (Cupid) torments Me with his five
arrows, thus exhausting My entire body.”
The sakhé says, “O Rädhä, take revenge on Kämadeva
(Cupid).”
Rädhä answers, “O sakhé, Kämadeva has no body, so how can
I retaliate? He tears My body asunder with His five arrows, causing
Me agony, but these arrows do not take away My life.”
“Sväminé, since Çré Kåñëa is an ocean of mercy, He will certainly
bestow mercy upon You. Have patience.”
Çré Rädhä replies, “Dvi-tréëy eva dinäni yauvanam idam. Life
is momentary. Who can remain alive until then? The life-span of
the living entity in a human body is one hundred years, but youth
only lasts a few days. Without youth, how will I serve Him? My
youth only is the cause of His happiness.”
In reality, Çré Rädhä is the eternal beloved of Çré Kåñëa. She is
not an ordinary mäniné, a woman who has been offended by
Her lover – She is the personification of viçuddha-sattva. By her
power, Yogamäyä has manifested these pastimes on the surface
of the Earth for the purpose of accomplishing Kåñëa’s nara-lélä.
Çré Caitanya-caritämåta (Ädi-lélä 4.29–30) confirms this with the
following words:
mo-viñaye gopé-gaëera upapati-bhäve
yoga-mäyä karibeka äpana-prabhäve
ämiha nä jäni tähä, nä jäne gopé-gaëa
duìhära rüpa-guëe duìhära nitya hare mana
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
The influence of Yogamäyä will inspire the gopés with the sentiment
that I am their paramour. Neither the gopés nor I shall notice
this, for our minds will always be entranced by one another’s
beauty and virtues.
Text 13
Çré Rädhä’s condition of udvega, anxiety, in separation from Çré
Kåñëa is described in Kåñëa-karëämåta (42):
kim iha kåëumaù kasya brümaù kåtaà kåtam äçayä
kathayata kathäm anyäà dhanyäm aho hådayeçayaù
madhura-madhura-smeräkäre mano-nayanotsave
kåpaëa kåpaëä kåñëe tåñëä ciraà bata lambate
What shall I do now? To whom shall I speak? What is the purpose
of holding on to the futile hope of receiving His darçana? Please
speak about something better. Aho! But how can I possibly stop
talking about He who is contained within My heart? His gentle,
sweet smile is a festival for the mind and eyes. My longing to see
this form of Çré Kåñëa increases moment by moment.
ebe bala ki kariba, käre duùkha jänäiba,
deha dhari kåñëera äçäya
kaha anya kathä dhanya, yäte citta suprasanna,
sakhi! tähä nä haibe upäya
kåñëa håde çu’ye äche, mådu madhu häsiteche,
mano-nayanera mahotsava
kåñëa lakhibära äçä, mane kaila cira väsä,
se äçä kåpaëä asambhava
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
A variety of sentiments are arising in Çré Rädhä’s heart. While in
this state of bhäva-çäbalya (the clashing and jostling of many
different bhävas, in which one bhäva suppresses another and
3 3 5
7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
becomes predominant), Çré Rädhä says, “O sakhés, what shall I do
in this state of misfortune? I do not know how I will attain the
darçana of Çré Kåñëa. To whom shall I express this heart-breaking
anguish? In this state of separation from Kåñëa, your condition is
similar to Mine, so who in Vraja can I tell about the condition of
My heart?”
A moment later, Çré Rädhä conceals Her bhäva-çäbalya and says
(Çrémad-Bhägavatam (11.8.44)): “‘Äçä hi paramaà duùkham
hope itself is the consummate giver of sorrow.’ For many days I
have sat and waited, hoping that Kåñëa would soon come, but so
far He has not arrived. Now it is appropriate to give up that
hope.” Here the saïcäri-bhäva called mati (resolve or wisdom)
has arisen, after which amarña (intolerance or indignation)
appears. Çré Rädhä then says, “O sakhés, abandon talk about
ungrateful Kåñëa! Please tell Me about something else.” As She
says this, Kåñëa manifests to Her internal vision. Wounded by the
arrow of käma, She becomes restless like a deer pierced by an
arrow, and the bhäva of amarña becomes covered by the
appearance of träsa (fear). Distressed, She cries, “Oh, what suffering!
Kåñëa is lying in My heart and looking at Me with His sidelong
glance, which is imbued with a sweet, gentle smile. This
glance, full of laughter, is a great festival for the eyes and minds
of all vraja-ramaëés.”
Suddenly this bhäva disappears, and great distress and
remorse are aroused in Her heart. Again She laments, saying,
Sakhé, what shall I do? You tell Me to be patient, but how can I
be patient? The hope of receiving Kåñëa’s darçana resides in My
mind, but this seems to be merely a vain hope that is fit to be
abandoned.” While lamenting in this way, autsukya-bhäva
(ardent desire) again arises. Restless in separation from Kåñëa,
Çrématé says, “Understanding that her hope was extremely
4
The story of Piìgalä is narrated in Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Eleventh Canto,
Chapter 8.
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
distressful, the prostitute Piìgalä4 abandoned it and became
happy. I should also give up the hope of attaining Kåñëa, but it is
so difficult to stop talking about Him. Alas! The thirst for Çré
Kåñëa’s darçana is increasing in My heart moment by moment.
That thirst is also increasing madana (käma), which is sweeter
than sweet.”
Text 14
The divyonmäda (transcendental madness) of Çré Rädhä, who is
restless in the intense fire of separation from Çré Kåñëa, is
described in Kåñëa-karëämåta (41):
amüny-adhanyäni dinäntaräëi
hare! tvad-älokanam antareëa
anätha-bandho! karuëaika-sindho!
hä hanta! hä hanta! kathaà nayämi
Alas! Alas! O Hari! O friend of the helpless! O You who are the
only ocean of mercy! How can I pass these miserable days
without Your darçana?
nä heriye tava mukha, hådaye däruëa, duùkha,
déna-bandho, karuëä-sägara
e adhanya divä-niçi, kemane käöäbe däsé,
upäya balaha ataùpara
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
Without the darçana of Çré Kåñëa, a moment seems like hundreds
of yugas for Çré Rädhä, who is burning in the fire of separation,
and Her days stand still. “These days and nights, in which I
cannot serve You, are not blessed.”
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
The word (meaning “alas”) in this verse expresses a distress
that is full of grief. Kåñëa may say (Çrémad-Bhägavatam
(10.29.20)), “patayaç ca vaù, vicinvanti – O Rädhä, Your body,
which is pierced by the arrows of Anaìga (Cupid), burns in the
fire of käma, so You should search for Your husband.”
Then Çré Rädhä will reply, “O Çyäma, I am searching for My
präëa-priyatama Vrajendra-nandana. What need have I for a
husband who gives distress? O friend of the helpless, having
abandoned My husband, I have come to My priyatama (You).”
If somebody says, “Why have You come to Your priyatama?”
then Çrématé would answer, “He is the friend of the helpless and
destitute. I am helpless, so He is also My friend.”
If Kåñëa says (Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.29.24)), “bhartuù
çuçrüñaëaà stréëäà paro dharmaù – the supreme duty of women
is to serve their husbands,” then, in reply, She will say (Çrémad-
Bhägavatam (10.29.34)), “cittaà sukhena bhavatäpahåtam – our
minds and senses were satisfied engaging in household duties,
but You stole them. O Hari, we have come to You in search of
the great wealth of our hearts and senses. If there is anything
wrong with this, it is Your fault.”
If Kåñëa says, “You are liars! When did I steal your dharma and
your hearts?” then She will reply (Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.29.38)),
tan naù praséda – be pleased with us, O You who are the only
ocean of mercy, kindly give us a mere drop from that ocean.”
Text 15
Kåñëa-karëämåta (40) describes Çré Rädhä’s longing to meet Çré
Kåñëa:
he deva! he dayita! he bhuvanaika-bandho!
he kåñëa! he capala! he karuëaika-sindho!
he nätha! he ramaëa! he nayanäbhiräma!
hä hä kadä nu bhavitäsi padaà dåçor me
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
O Lord! O dearest one! O only friend of the three worlds! O
Kåñëa! O restless one! O only ocean of compassion! O Deva! O
lover (ramaëa)! O You who delight the eyes! Oh! When will You
again be visible to My eyes? When will I receive Your darçana?
he deva, he präëapriya, ekamätra bandhu iha,
he kåñëa, capala, kåpä-sindhu
he nätha, ramaëa mama, nayanera priyatama,
kabe dekhä dibe präëa-bandho
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
The sakhés are consoling Çré Våñabhänu-nandiné, who is suffering
in separation from Kåñëa. Suddenly, Çré Rädhä looks here and
there and says, “O sakhé, listen! It is the sound of Çré Kåñëa’s
ankle-bells! But why is He not coming before My eyes? Surely
that rogue is sporting with some beautiful girl in a nearby kuïja.”
While speaking like this, Çré Rädhä becomes mad (unmädiné)
and in that maddened condition, She sees that Çré Kåñëa has
come. On His body, though, are signs that He has been sporting
with another woman. Upon seeing the marks, Çré Rädhä becomes
indignant (amarña) and, even though Çré Kåñëa is present before
Her, She does not speak to Him but turns Her face away. Çré
Kåñëa then disappears and Rädhä eagerly begins to search for
Him here and there.
Restlessness resulting from a delay in seeing and attaining the
desired object is called autsukya, ardent desire. When bhävas
overlap, it is known as bhäva-çäbalya. When autsukya and
asüyä (envy) awaken simultaneously, Çré Rädhä sometimes criticises
Kåñëa, and sometimes She praises Him. Sometimes She
goes into mäna, sometimes She becomes proud and sometimes
She praises Him sarcastically.
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She says, “O Deva, because You sport with other women, You
are called Deva5.” Due to this disrespect, Kåñëa leaves.
Repentant, Çré Rädhä begins to speak out of an eager longing to
again have His darçana. “O beloved (dayita), You are the most
dear of My life. Why did You abandon Me? Please, grant Me Your
darçana.”
Hearing this, Çré Kåñëa again appears. As soon as Çré Rädhä
sees Him, the bhävas of amarña (indignation) and asüyä (envy)
arise in Her, and She sarcastically derides Him. “O only friend of
the three worlds (bhuvanaika-bandho), by playing on Your
enchanting flute, You bring all women under Your control, and
for this reason You are the friend of the entire world. You are the
friend of all gopés, therefore You stay near them. Isn’t it Your own
fault then, that You do not come to Me?”
Hearing this, Kåñëa again disappears. Not seeing Him, Çré
Rädhä says, “O Kåñëa! O Çyämasundara! You attract the hearts of
the entire universe. After stealing My heart, where have You
gone? Please, kindly give Me Your darçana, just once.”
Hearing this, Çré Kåñëa again comes and says, “O Priyä, I was
just outside the kuïja. Please, be satisfied with Me.”
Upon hearing Çré Kåñëa’s entreaty, which is mixed with fickleness,
Rädhä says, “O fickle one (capala)! O snake of the cowherd
maidens! Please, go away from here, stealer of other men’s
wives! I have no need for You. Go back where You came from.”
Kåñëa hears this and pretends to leave. Çré Våñabhänu-nandiné
understands that Her präëanätha has gone and offers a supplication.
“O only ocean of mercy, I know that I am an offender, but
You are the ocean of compassion and Your heart is soft, so
please, give Me Your darçana. O lover (ramaëa), You are always
sporting with Me, so please come to the kuïja.”
5
Deva means “someone who sports or plays”.
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
Within Her mind, She understands that Kåñëa has again
arrived. Thus absorbed, She holds out Her arms to embrace Him
but is unable to do so. Coming to external consciousness, She
begins speaking in extreme distress, “O You who delight the eyes
(nayanäbhiräma)! O You who give joy to the eyes! My eyes are
very thirsty to have Your darçana. Alas! When will You appear
before them?”
Text 16
Kåñëa-karëämåta (68) describes an internal vision (sphürtidarçana)
of Kåñëa:
märaù svayaà nu madhura-dyuti-maëòalaà nu
mädhuryam eva nu mano-nayanämåtaà nu
veëé-måjo nu mama jévita-vallabho nu
kåñëo ’yam abhyudayate mama locanäya
Is this Cupid himself, or is it a halo of sweet effulgence? Is this the
personification of sweetness, or the life-giving nectar of the mind
and eyes? Is this the lover who loosens My braid, the beloved of
My life, the youthful Kåñëa, who has manifest before My eyes?
svayaà kandarpa eki, madhura-maëòala näki,
mädhurya äpani mürtimäna
mano-nayanera madhu, düra ha’te äila bandhu,
jévana-vallabha vraja-präëa
ämära nayana-äge, äila kåñëa anuräge,
dehe mora äila jévana
saba duùkha düre gela, präëa mora juòäila,
dekha sakhi! päinu härädhana
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
When Çré Kåñëa disappears from the räsa-lélä, the gopés sing a
piteous kértana filled with the mood of separation from Him. At
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
that time, Kåñëa, who is manmatha-manmatha, the bewilderer
of the mind of Cupid, appears before them. In Çrémad-
Bhägavatam (10.32.2) Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé describes that
unprecedentedly beautiful form of Kåñëa: “täsäm ävirabhüc
chauriù smayamäna-mukhämbujaù – with a smile on His lotus
face, Kåñëa appeared before the gopés. Wearing a flower garland
and a yellow garment, He appeared directly as one who can
bewilder the mind of Cupid, who himself bewilders the minds of
ordinary people.”
Çauri Çré Kåñëa, who defeats even Cupid, appears before the
gopés. Upon seeing His beauty, Rädhä becomes perplexed and
wonders, “Is Kåñëa really present before us?” Confused, She says
to Her sakhés, “O sakhés, is He who is standing before us Cupid
incarnate, whose invisible form attacks everyone?” Here in this
Text, the word nu (meaning “whether”) is used in the sense of
reasoning. Again perceiving His sweetness, She says with astonishment,
“That Cupid cannot be so sweet, so is this a halo of
sweet beauty? This is also astonishing. No, no it is not merely a
halo of beauty, it is some kind of embodied sweetness. No other
kind of sweetness can satisfy our eyes, but our eyes are satisfied
with this darçana.” With great pleasure, She says, “Is this nectar
itself? But sakhé, nectar does not have a form and this does, so it
cannot be nectar.” Again She says, “Is it our beloved, who
loosens our braids, who has come to us out of love?” Looking
very carefully at Kåñëa, She blissfully says, “O sakhés, it is the love
of our lives, the fresh, youthful dancer (nava-kiçora-naöavara).
It is He who gives pleasure to the eyes and who is our
präëakänta.”
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
Text 17
A description of the direct darçana of Çré Kåñëa is given in
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.32.2):
täsäm ävirabhüc chauriù
smayamäna-mukhämbujaù
pétämbara-dharaù sragvé
säkñän manmatha-manmathaù
Just then, Çré Kåñëa appeared in the midst of the gopés. His lotus
face blossomed with a mild, gentle smile. Hanging from His neck
was a garland of forest flowers, and He wore a golden-yellow
garment (pétämbara). What was the nature of His beauty? That
beauty stirs the mind of Kämadeva (Cupid), who himself stirs the
minds of everyone.
gopéra sammukha hari, däìòäila veëu dhari’,
smayamäna-mukhämbuja-çobhä
vanamälé pétämbara, manmathera manohara,
rädhikära deha-mano-lobhä
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
Çré Kåñëa, who is ever-skilful in increasing His devotees’ prema,
disappeared from the räsa-lélä. Devastated by separation from
Him, weeping, the gopés arrived at the bank of the Yamunä.
There they performed kértana, having exhausted all alternatives
in their search for Him. Their voices were full of extreme feeling
and they used metaphors with multiple meanings to express their
sentiments. Restless in the pain of separation, the vraja-ramaëés’
tears, full of prema, flowed freely and continuously from their
eyes. At that time, Çré Kåñëacandra, who was in the dense, dark
forest, heard their weeping and suddenly appeared in their
midst, manifesting His lustre.
In this Text, Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé is thoroughly absorbed in
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
maïjaré-bhäva and in anger, he has used the word çauri as an
insult. Çré Kåñëa appeared in a kñatriya family within the Çüra
dynasty, whose hearts were deceitful and hard. Çukadeva
Gosvämipäda was unable to tolerate Sväminé’s agony of separation
from Kåñëa, and he therefore saw Çré Kåñëa’s hiding as a
defect. He thought, “The young girls of Vraja are simple lovers
(premikäs), and You become joyful by making them unhappy.
Seeing the gopés afflicted by grief, You display Your prowess
(çaurya).” Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé felt that such so-called
prowess was a disgrace: “If Your heart were truly honest, You
would not have done such a thing.” These are examples of the
defamatory remarks used in prema; only one whose prema is
deep can speak like this.
Çré Kåñëacandra, the crown jewel of all those skilled in
amorous pastimes (vidagdha-cüòämaëi), appeared in the midst
of the vraja-devés, displaying His unparalleled beauty. This
beauty is described in this Text by the use of three adjectives:
smayamäna, sragvé and säkñän-manmatha-manmathaù.
Smayamäna – Although His face was radiant and smiling, Çré
Kåñëa’s heart was remorseful. Smiling is a characteristic of
bhagavattä (the quality of being Bhagavän), but Kåñëa’s smile
before the gopés was caused by the bhävas He experienced upon
seeing them. He smiled to remove their distress and console
them. Darçana of His extremely enchanting lotus face removes
all the gopés’ sorrow. When Çré Kåñëa, wearing a pétämbara
(golden-yellow garment), heard the distress-filled cry of the
vraja-devés, He came swiftly, holding His pétämbara around His
neck, so that it would not slip off.
Çré Kåñëa had charmed the gopés with the sound of His flute.
All those gopés had abandoned their families, morality, patience
and shyness to arrive at Kåñëa’s side. But on that day, Kåñëacandra
had abandoned the gopés and disappeared. Upon His return, He
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
held His yellow cloth around His neck as a gesture, in order to
show that He was praying for forgiveness. Conscious that He had
given great suffering to His dear ones, Kåñëa admitted that He
Himself was an offender, and He held His pétämbara with His
hands to beg forgiveness for His offence. Just as an offender
clasps a piece of straw between his teeth, Kåñëa humbly put His
cloth around His neck, thus begging forgiveness. His hands held
His pétämbara, which He used to carefully wipe away the tears
from the eyes of the vraja-devés, who were grief-stricken in separation
from Him. Vrajendra-nandana is also relating the following
mood to the gopés: “You are of golden complexion, so I have covered
My body, heart and mind with the pétämbara; My inner
heart is also coloured by your golden anuräga.”
Sragvé – Leaving aside all other ornaments, Kåñëa wore a fresh,
radiant garland of forest flowers around His charming neck. He
wore this garland of cooling lotuses only to remove the gopés’ fire
of separation. In doing so, He expressed the sentiment, “You are
like the garland’s flowers; you are like My very heart. By embracing
you, I am praying for forgiveness and beg you to soothe the
heat of My feelings of separation from you. You strung this very
garland yourself and garlanded Me with it. I am displaying My
eternal gratitude by wearing it upon My heart.”
Säkñän-manmatha-manmathaù – Çré Kåñëa’s extremely charming
beauty, embellished by His being in the midst of the gopés,
churned the mind of Cupid. Vyañöi-kämadeva and samañöikämadeva
are concealed in säkñät-manmatha, the original
Kämadeva. The vyañöi-kämadevas are the Kämadevas that exists
in different universes, samañöi-kämadeva is Pradyumna, and the
original Kämadeva is Nanda-nandana Himself. The material
Madana (Kämadeva) intoxicates all jévas, but when this material
Madana receives darçana of Çré Kåñëa’s form, which enchants the
three worlds, he falls unconscious. Säkñät-manmatha-manmatha
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
Kåñëa, who is the transcendental Kämadeva, manifested such a
form to decrease the gopés’ suffering.
Çréla Jéva Gosvämé writes in the Krama-sandarbha that
manmatha-manmatha signifies that person who infatuates even
Madana. Çré Kåñëacandra displayed His Mohiné-mürti and even
bewildered Mahädeva in his form as Rudra.6 But actually, Çré
Kåñëa’s form as säkñät-manmatha-manmatha is only displayed
in the räsa-maëòala. This is confirmed in Çré Caitanyacaritämåta
(Ädi-lélä 5.212–3):
våndävana-purandara çré-madana-gopäla
räsa-viläsé säkñät brajendra-kumära
çré-rädhä-lalitä-saìge räsa-viläsa
manmatha-manmatha-rüpe yäìhära prakäça
Madana-gopäla, the Lord of Våndävana, is the enjoyer of the räsa
dance and is directly the son of the King of Vraja. He enjoys the
räsa dance with Çrématé Rädhikä, Çré Lalitä and others. He manifests
Himself as the Cupid of Cupids.
Text 18
Çré Rädhä’s meeting with Kåñëa in Nava-Våndävana, Dvärakä, and
an expression of a desire for vraja-bhäva, is described in Lalitamädhava
(10.260):
ciräd äçä-mätraà tvayi viracayantaù sthira-dhiyo
vidadhyur ye väsaà madhurima gabhére madhu-pure
dadhänaù kaiçore vayasi sakhi täà gokula-pate
prapadyethäs teñäà paricayam avaçyaà nayanayoù
[Çré Rädhä said:] O Çré Kåñëa, for a long time, persons with fixed
intelligence have sustained their lives with the hope that You will
6
The story of how Mahädeva became bewildered by Çré Kåñëa’s Mohiné-mürti
form is narrated in Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Eighth Canto, Chapter 12.
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
one day return. You reside in Madhupuré, which is filled with
profound sweetness. O master of Gokula, the adolescent sakhäs
are patiently gazing at Your return path. Therefore, You must
give us Your darçana without fail.
gabhéra-mädhurya-maya, sei vraja-dhäma haya,
tathä yata sthira-buddhi jana
cira-äçä håde dhari’, tomära darçane hari,
basiyäche se saba sajjana
tomära kaiçora-lélä, hådaye varaëa kailä,
ebe se saväre kåpä kari’
nayana-gocara haiyä, lélä kara tathä giyä,
ei mätra nivedana kari
Text 19
Suffering pangs of separation from Çré Kåñëa, Rädhä desires to
bring Him back to Våndävana, which is filled with sweet memories.
Lalita-mädhava (10.261) states:
yä te lélä-rasa-parimalodgäri-vanyä-parétä
dhanyä kñauëé vilasati våtä mäthuré mädhurébhiù
taträsmäbhiç caöula-paçupé-bhäva-mugdhäntaräbhiù
saàvétas taà kalaya vadanolläsi veëur vihäram
Near the highly praised Mathurä is that land of Våndävana, which
is full of forests that emit the sublime fragrance of the mellows of
Your pastimes (lélä-rasa), and which is made splendid with
sweetness and beauty. With a smiling face and playing the flute,
please sport in that Våndävana with those whose hearts are
infatuated with capricious and unpredictable gopé-bhäva.
mathurä-maëòala majhe, mädhuré-maëòita säje,
dhanya-dhanya våndävana-bhümi
tähe tava nitya-lélä, parimala prakäçilä,
acintya-çaktite kåñëa tumi
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
gopé-bhäve mugdha yata, tomära çåëgära-rata,
ämä ädi praëayé-nicaya
ämä-sabe la’ye punaù, kréòä kara anukñaëa,
vaàçé-vädye brajendra-tanaya
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
In his Lalita-mädhava, Çréla Rüpa Gosvämé gives the following
narration. In one kalpa Çré Rädhä was so unable to tolerate the
affliction of separation from Kåñëa after He had left for Mathurä,
that She jumped into the Yamunä. Yamunä, the daughter of
Süryadeva, then took Çré Rädhä to her father. Süryadeva
entrusted Her to his friend and devotee, Saträjit, who was childless,
and told him, “Her name is Satyabhämä. Consider Her to be
your daughter.” Later, upon the instruction of Närada, King
Saträjit sent Satyabhämä to Çré Kåñëa’s inner quarters in Dvärakä.
The wife of Sürya, Saàjïä, was the daughter of Viçvakarmä.
Through her father, Saàjïä had previously created the captivating
Nava-Våndävana for Satyabhämä (Çré Rädhä) in Dvärakä.
Rukmiëé, Çré Kåñëa’s principal queen, kept the extraordinarily
charming and beautiful Satyabhämä hidden in Nava-Våndävana,
so that Kåñëa would not see Her. In due course, however,
Satyabhämä did meet with Kåñëa, and the secret that Satyabhämä
is actually Rädhä and Rukmiëé is actually Candrävalé was
revealed. Thereafter, Rukmiëé arranged for Satyabhämä’s marriage
to Çré Kåñëa. At the time of the wedding, Yaçodäräëé,
Paurëamäsé, Mukharä and other Vrajaväsés were present in
Dvärakä.
One day, in this Nava-Våndävana, Kåñëa said to Rädhä, “O
Dearest, what more can I do to make You happy?”
Çré Rädhä replied, “Präëeçvara, all the sakhés of Vraja, My
cousin-sister Candrävalé, Mother Vrajeçvaré and everyone else
came here, and I met with them. Nonetheless, My earnest request
to You is to please leave this abode of opulence, Dvärakä, and in
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
Your form as a fresh, youthful, expert dancer, wearing the attire
of a cowherd boy, sport with Me in the kuïjas of Vraja-dhäma,
the renowned land of eternal pastimes.”
Text 20
Anguished that their blinking prevented them from seeing Kåñëa
when they were taking His darçana, the gopés curse the person
who created eyelids. Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.82.39) describes
this condition of the gopés at their meeting with Kåñëa in
Kurukñetra:
gopyaç ca kåñëam upalabhya ciräd abhéñöaà
yat-prekñaëe dåçiñu pakñma-kåtaà çapanti
dågbhir hådé-kåtam alaà parirabhya sarväs
tad-bhävam äpur api nitya-yujäà duräpam
[Çréla Çukadeva Gosvämé, who was experiencing the mood of the
gopés when they saw Çré Kåñëa at Kurukñetra, said:] The vrajasundarés,
who cursed the Creator for making eyelids that
obstructed their darçana of Çré Kåñëa, now saw Çré Kåñëa again
after a very long time. They took Him from the path of their eyes
into their hearts and tightly embraced Him there. They attained
that rare absorption that cannot be attained either by yogés or by
Rukmiëé and the other queens of Dvärakä, who are always with
Him.
cira-dina kåñëa-äçe, chila gopé vraja-väse,
kurukñetre präëanäthe päiyä
animeña-netra-dväre, äni’ kåñëe premädhäre,
håde äliìgila mugdha haiyä
ähä se amiya bhäva, anya jane asambhava,
svakéya-käntäya sudurlabha
gopé vinä ei prema, yena viçodhita hema,
lakñmé-gaëe cira asambhava
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Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
At the time of the solar eclipse, all the Vrajaväsés arrived at
Kurukñetra, eager to see and meet with Çré Kåñëa. When the
vraja-ramaëés saw Kåñëa after being separated from Him for so
long, they became radiant with bliss, and their hearts and eyes
did not move. Those vraja-gopés had been unable to tolerate
even a moment’s separation caused by the blinking of their eyes,
and had thus cursed the creator of eyelids. Who can describe
their ecstasy when they again saw Çré Kåñëa after burning in a
raging fire of separation from Him?
The Çrutis say it is impossible to describe in words the happiness
derived from merging into Brahman (brahmänanda); no
one is able to determine the extent of it. This brahmänanda,
however, is like a firefly before rasänanda, the bliss attained by
the mahäbhäva-vaté gopés in their prema-filled service to Kåñëa.
The gopés’ bodies are composed of anuräga, which is caused by
the great depth of their relationship with Kåñëa. Anuräga is a
function of the hlädiné-çakti when it is endowed with saàvit.
This state is called sva-saàvedya, which means that it can only
be known by the person who experiences it.
According to the intensity of anuräga, prema is determined as
perfect (pürëa), more perfect (pürëatara) or most perfect
(pürëatama). Compared to the pürëatama anuräga of the
gopés, the bliss of the service performed by Lakñmé, who sports
on the chest of Näräyaëa, and also the skill of the queens of
Dvärakä in the art of various loving sports, are bland and insipid.
Although they exhibit various extraordinary moods, enchanting
and beautiful smiles, and so on, they cannot bring Kåñëa’s heart
under their control. The vraja-gopés, however, who are coloured
with dense anuräga, as well as with prema imbued with
madéya-bhäva (a feeling that “Kåñëa belongs to me”), control Çré
Kåñëa’s heart through their crooked, sidelong glances. Çréla
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
Çukadeva Gosvämipäda’s reference to the gopés’ extraordinary
prema in this Text is a sharp cue meant for the jïänés, who meditate
on Brahman. In effect he is saying, “O jïänés performing
arduous sädhana! Fie on you! If you want to make your lives
successful, then surrender at the lotus feet of these gopés, who are
endowed with prema.”
Darçana of the vraja-gopés’ prema-mädhurya also makes
Uddhava yearn to attain it: väïchanti yad bhava-bhiyo munayo
vayaà ca (Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.47.58)). Enchanted by this
prema-mädhurya, the queens of Dvärakä, who always accompany
Kåñëa, pray to attain the fragrance of Çré Kåñëa’s lotus feet,
which are coloured with kuìkuma from the gopés’ breasts.
One unprecedented experience of ecstasy in separation is
called divyonmäda. This ocean of prema stirs enormous waves
that inundate every universe. Its current bewilders the heavenly
damsels, whose lustre is like the lotus. It stirs the hearts of earthly
beings, invades Satyaloka, and even rebukes the beauty of the
land of Vaikuëöha. Uddhava, Närada and others are astonished to
see the prema engendered by the gopés’ mahäbhäva, which even
stuns the hearts of Rukmiëé and Satyabhämä. Despite performing
several arduous practices, the yogés are unable to establish in
their hearts so much as the effulgence of the nails of Çré Kåñëa’s
lotus feet. The gopés, however, very easily and directly adorn
their breasts with the lotus feet of youthful Kåñëa, who is the
essence of all beauty and lustre, and thus they pacify His fire of
lust. Blessed are these masterful gopés.
Text 21
The gopés’ intense longing to receive Çré Kåñëa in their own home,
Våndävana, is described in Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.82.48):
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ähuç ca te nalina-näbha padäravindaà
yogeçvarair hådi vicintyam agädha-bodhaiù
saàsära-küpa-patitottaraëävalambaà
gehaà juñäm api manasy udiyät sadä naù
[At the meeting in Kurukñetra, Çré Rädhikä and the prominent
gopés said:] O Kamalanäbha (You whose navel is like a lotus),
great yogés who possess profound intelligence meditate upon
Your lotus feet in their hearts. Your lotus feet are the only means
of escape for those who have fallen into the well of material existence.
O Lord, please give us the benediction that, even when we
perform household work, Your lotus feet shall always reside in
our hearts and we shall never forget them, even for a moment.
kåñëa he!
agädha-bodha-sampanna, yogeçvara-gaëa dhanya,
tava pada karuëa cintana
saàsära-patita jana, dharu tava çré-caraëa,
küpa haite uddhära käraëa
ämi vraja-gopa-näré, nähi-yogé, na-saàsäré,
tomä laïä ämära saàsära
mama mana våndävana, räkhi’ tathä o’caraëa,
ei väïchä püräo ämära
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
At the time of their meeting in Kurukñetra, Çré Kåñëa tried to console
the vraja-gopés, who had been agitated in separation from
Him, by instructing them on brahma-jïäna and yoga. He said, “I
am all-pervading; I am never separated from you all. Endeavour
to see Me in your hearts through devout meditation.”
Hearing their priyatama’s instructions on brahma-jïäna and
yoga, the gopés became somewhat angry and said, “O shining sun
of tattva-äcäryas! Give these instructions on jïäna-yoga
somewhere else; we very simple and ignorant gopés cannot
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
understand them. It is commendable to give an instruction that is
suitable to the listener. When we hear these instructions, our
hearts begin to burn. Präëanätha, it is true that the hearts of
others are the same as their minds, but our hearts are the same as
Våndävana, so if You go to Våndävana, we shall consider that You
have entered our hearts. Only this will be Your complete mercy,
nothing else. Vraja is not only our heart, it is also our home.
Unless we meet You there, our life-airs will certainly leave our
bodies.
“First, You sent Uddhava to instruct us on yoga and jïäna, and
today You are personally giving us this same instruction. You are
rasika and supremely compassionate, and You also understand
the feelings in our hearts, so why do You speak like this? You
know we want to remove our affection for You and place it in
worldly enjoyment, but even after a hundred thousand such
attempts, we have been unable to do so. Now You are instructing
us to meditate upon You. Can You not even slightly consider
the persons You are instructing? We gopés are not great yogés, and
we can never be satisfied by meditating on Your lotus feet.
Hearing You talk like this makes us very angry. O simpleton,
where is the possibility of a well of material existence, and desire
for deliverance from it, for those who cannot even recall their
own bodies? We are always drowning in the deep waters of
separation from You, where the crocodiles of lust swallow us. O
Präëanätha, please save us!
“O wealth of our lives, have You forgotten Våndävana,
Govardhana, the banks of the Yamunä, and the räsa-lélä and
other pastimes that took place in the kuïjas? Aho! It is surprising
that You have forgotten the sakhäs, Your parents and all the
other Vrajaväsés. It is our misfortune. We are not unhappy for ourselves;
we are unhappy for Vrajeçvaré Yaçodä-maiyä. It tears our
hearts apart to see her so forlorn. We may or may not have a
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relationship with You, but You are related to Yaçodä-maiyä by
blood, as Your body is made of her blood. You may forget that
relationship, but it cannot be removed. Whether You come to
Våndävana or not is up to You, but why have You kept the
Vrajaväsés alive? Is it just to make them suffer again and again?
Yes, if You want to keep them alive, then quickly come to
Våndävana. This royal attire of Yours, the elephants and horses,
Your association with the officers of the king of this place, and
this foreign land, do not slightly befit the Vrajaväsés. Although we
are unable to abandon Våndävana, we could not remain alive
without seeing You. You are the life of Vraja, the wealth of
Vrajaräja’s life and also the very life of our lives. Quickly return to
Våndävana and protect the lives of everyone.”
Text 22
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.82.40) describes Çré Kåñëa’s conversation
with the gopés that occurred in a solitary place:
bhagaväàs täs tathä-bhütä
vivikta upasaìgataù
äçliñyänämayaà påñövä
prahasann idam abravét
When Çré Kåñëa saw that the gopés had attained oneness (tädätmya)
with Him, He went with them to a secluded place. After embracing
them to His heart and inquiring about their well-being, He laughed
and spoke as follows.
vivikte laiyä, gopé äliìgiyä,
preme marma-kathä kaya
kåñëa gopé préti, mahiñéra tati,
dekhiyä äçcarya haya
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
When Çré Kåñëa heard Çré Rädhä’s anguished talks of separation,
He remembered His unlimited, honest love for the Vrajaväsés and
became very restless. Considering Himself indebted to them, He
began to console them by addressing Çré Rädhä. “Priyatamä,
accept the following as truth. Remembering You, I burn day and
night in a fire of separation. No one knows the extent of My
unbearable pain. The Vrajaväsés, My parents and the sakhäs are
My very life, and among them, the gopés are directly My life. And
You are the life of My life. What more can I say? I am always subservient
to Your unconditional love. Misfortune is very strong,
and no one can do anything about it. This misfortune has separated
Me from You, keeping Me in a distant country.
“It is true that the beloved cannot remain alive without the
association of the lover, and that the lover cannot live without the
beloved, but neither will die because each thinks, ‘If I die, his
condition of separation will be the same as mine.’ Aho! The faithful
beloved and the truly affectionate lover think of each other’s
welfare even in separation. They never think of their own sorrows
and sufferings, but always want their beloved to be happy.
This kind of loving couple meet each other again very quickly.
“You do not know that daily I worship Bhagavän Çré Näräyaëa
to protect Your life. By His potency, I come to Våndävana from
this distant country every day to meet with You and sport with
You in various ways, but You think this is only a vision. Beloved
Rädhä, it is My good fortune that Your love for Me is unlimited
and incomparable. This prema will quickly pull Me back to You
in Våndävana. In just a few days, after killing the remaining
enemies of the Yädavas, I will return to Våndävana. Consider that
I have already come.”
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Text 23
Çré Kåñëa spoke the following words to give the gopés consolation.
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.82.44) states:
mayi bhaktir hi bhütänäm
amåtatväya kalpate
diñöyä yad äsén mat-sneho
bhavaténäà mad-äpanaù
Sakhés, it is greatly fortunate that you have developed prema for
Me, by which one can attain Me. Loving devotional service unto
Me qualifies living entities to attain My supremely blissful eternal
abode.
ämäte ye prema-bhakti parama amåta
tava snehe niravadhi tava däsye rata
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
After a long separation, the gopés met with Çré Kåñëa at
Kurukñetra. There, in a solitary place, Çré Kåñëa consoled the
beautiful, lotus-eyed women of Vraja by embracing and kissing
them, wiping the tears from their eyes, and inquiring about their
health and well-being. He said, “O sakhés, in this long separation
you have remembered Me! You are convinced that I am ungrateful,
but you do not consider Me cruel, do you? Without doubt,
Bhagavän is the cause of the living entities’ meeting and separating.
Just as blades of grass, cotton fluff and granules of dust meet
and again separate due to the wind, similarly everyone meets
and separates according to the desire of Éçvara, the Supreme
Controller. If you say that I am that Éçvara who arranges meeting
and separation, then there is no reason for your sorrow, because
by good fortune you have achieved that prema by which I can be
attained. Devotion performed unto Me is capable of giving living
entities the eternal supreme abode, but your loving affection for
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
Me makes Me unable to remain far away from you. Rather, it
attracts Me to you.”
In his Krama-sandarbha commentary, Çréla Jéva Gosvämipäda
says, “Through the practice of sädhana-bhakti, the living entity
can attain the dhäma of Bhagavän according to his desire and
constitutional nature. Being pleased with such devotees, Çré Kåñëa
accepts their service. The sneha, räga, anuräga and mahäbhäva
of the vraja-devés assume the highest excellence and therefore Çré
Kåñëa is controlled by the gopés. Pure devotional service and
affection etc., which are endowed with possessiveness, attract Çré
Kåñëa. One should understand that affection for Bhagavän is the
topmost way to attract Him.”
Çré Kåñëa again speaks. “The sky and the other four primary
elements are in all material objects in their beginning, middle and
end stages. Similarly, I exist in the beginning and end of all
objects, and inside and outside of them also. I am not, therefore,
separated from you in any way. You are suffering from a false
pain of separation – due to a simple lack of discrimination. Your
bodies and life-airs are all situated in My svarüpa. Try to realise
this truth and meditate in your hearts as yogés do, then your pain
of separation will be removed.”
Upon hearing this spiritual teaching from the lotus mouth of
their präëa-vallabha Çré Kåñëa, the gopés began to speak, their
lips quivering in anger born of affection. “O Nalinanäbha (one
with an extremely beautiful lotus-like navel), You want to please
our hearts by instructing us in knowledge of bhagavat-tattva, but
this knowledge does not enter our ears. We are already engaged
in relishing the nectar of Your beauty through our eyes. Where is
the time to hear these tattvas?”
Or by use of the word nalinanäbha the vraja-devés insinuate,
“O Kåñëa, a lotus has grown from Your navel. This is a good
thing, but just as the root of the lotus is connected with water and
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7 / SAPTAMA-YÄMA-SÄDHANA
mud, Your intelligence has also become soiled. Please give these
instructions to ignorant persons only, not to us. Does one give
the food of animals to human beings? Now You are claiming
Yourself to be Bhagavän. If the Vrajaväsés hear this, You will
become a laughing stock. Agädha-bodhair yogeçvarair hådi
vicintya. Please give this jïäna-yoga to profoundly intelligent
yogés, endowed with tattva-jïäna, who are unable to meditate
on Your feet.”
Or the gopés speak reproachfully, saying, “O Kåñëa, we have
heard from Paurëamäsé that Brahmä was born from the lotus
emanating from Your navel. By the association of that jïäné,
Brahmä, Your intelligence has also greatly decreased.” (“Yasya
yat-saìgatiù puàso maëivat syät sa tad-guëaù – a person
develops the qualities of the company he keeps, just as a crystal
reflects the colour of those objects which are brought into its
proximity.”)
Or the gopés angrily say, “O Kåñëa, only great yogés endowed
with profound intelligence are capable of meditating on Your
lotus feet. We are ignorant cowherd girls with restless minds, and
it is impossible for us to meditate on Your lotus feet.”
Or the gopés reveal the inner feelings of their hearts to Çré
Kåñëa: “O Kåñëa, what to speak of meditating on Your lotus feet,
now the mere memory of them distresses us. We fear placing
Your lotus feet, which are softer than a newly-blossomed lotus,
on our hard breasts.
yat te sujäta-caraëämburuhaà staneñu
bhétäù çanaiù priya dadhémahi karkaçeñu
tenäöavém aöasi tad vyathate na kià svit
kürpädibhir bhramati dhér bhavad-äyuñäà naù
Çrémad-Bhägavatam (10.31.19)
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
[The gopés said:] A fear has arisen in our minds that Your very soft
lotus feet may be pained by being placed on our hard breasts. Our
minds are agitated by such thoughts, as if tormented by a stinging
scorpion.
Or they say, “O Kåñëa, the nineteen signs marked on Your
lotus feet have appeared on the screen of our hearts, reminding
us of our previous pastimes in the kuïjas. The flag on Your lotus
feet reminds us of Your defeat by Çré Rädhä in amorous sports
(keli-viläsa). You said that You would take Her victory flag on
Your shoulder and wander here and there. The sign of the goad
on Your feet reminds us that Çré Rädhä, who is likened to an
elephant-driver, brings such an intoxicated elephant as You
under Her control with Her goad of prema. You Yourself have
admitted, ‘Na päraye ’haà niravadya-saàyujäm – O gopés, I
cannot repay you.’ ”
Or the gopés say, “You assumed Your form of Mohiné to cheat
the demons out of nectar, and then You arranged for the
demigods to relish it. Similarly, by instructing the yogés on meditation,
You deprive them of the secret of love. But we are not like
the demon or yogé who is deprived of the confidential secret of
prema-tattva.”
Saàsära-küpa-patitottaraëävalambaà te padäravindam
With affectionate anger, the gopés say, “O Kåñëa, You also sent
Uddhava to Vraja with Your collection of tattva-jïäna, but
instead of alleviating our pain of separation, Your message
simply increased it. And now You again are giving us that same
ridiculous instruction, which is suitable for a child. Brahmä and
other great yogés can be delivered from this material existence by
meditating on Your lotus feet, but we have not fallen into the
well of material existence. Rather, we have fallen into the ocean
of separation from You and cannot even recollect our own
bodies. We gave up attachment to our homes for Your happiness.
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How, then, is it possible for us to have fallen into the well of
material existence? Rather, we have fallen into the ocean of separation,
and the timiìgila fish of lust wants to swallow us.
Therefore, O crown jewel of experts in amorous sports
(vidagdha-çiromaëi), do not instruct us on jïäna-yoga. Please
just give us the pleasure of Your association to deliver us from
this ocean of separation. Our hearts run towards Våndävana,
because Våndävana’s trees, creepers, fruits, flowers and every
particle of dust are inseparably studded with memories of You. If
Your lotus feet appear in Våndävana, they will also appear in our
hearts.”
Gehaà juñäm api manasy udiyät – Distressed, the vraja-devés
say, “O Kåñëa, we have again met with You here at Kurukñetra,
and our meeting with You is like a first meeting, but our minds
are stolen away by memories of Våndävana. Here there is
lokäraëya, a “forest” of people, and the uproarious sounds of
elephants, horses and chariots. In Våndävana there is
puñpäraëya, a forest of flowers, where only the sweet sounds of
bumblebees and cuckoos are heard. Våndävana is very pleasant
and filled with music and song. It resounds with the sweet
sounds of çukas, särés, peacocks and cuckoos. Here in
Kurukñetra, You are dressed in royal attire and are accompanied
by kñatriya warriors who are adorned with a variety of weapons.
In Våndävana, however, where You wore the attire of a gopa, You
held a beautiful flute to Your lips. On Your head was a peacock
feather crown, on Your ears were earrings made from the buds
of campa flowers, and You were decorated with creepers, leaves
and minerals like gairika (red ochre).”
Çré Rädhä says, “O lotus-eyed one, the hearts of others are nondifferent
from their minds, and they are unable to separate their
hearts from their minds. But My mind is Våndävana. They are
one; there is no difference between them. Being Våndävana, My
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ÇRÉ BHAJANA-RAHASYA
mind is the sporting ground for My präëakänta. Previously, as
the topmost connoisseur of mellows (rasikendra-çiromaëi), You
performed playful pastimes, filled with the sweetness of rasa,
with Me there. My mind is eager to meet with You again in that
Våndävana.”
präëanätha, çuna mora satya nivedana
vraja – ämära sadana, tähäì tomära saìgama,
nä päile nä rahe jévana
Çré Caitanya-caritämåta (Madhya-lélä 13.138)
[Çré Rädhä said:] Präëanätha, hear My true submission. My home is
Våndävana, and I wish to have Your association there. If not, it will
be very difficult for Me to maintain My life.
Text 24
Pastimes during the first part of the night (pradoña-lélä) are
described in Govinda-lélämåta (21.1):
rädhäà sälégaëäntäm asita-sita-niçä-yogya-veçäà pradoñe
dütyä våndopadeçäd abhisåta-yamunä-téra-kalpäga-kuïjäm
kåñëaà gopaiù sabhäyäà vihita-guëi-kalälokanaà snigdha-mäträ
yatnäd änéya saàçäyitam atha nibhåtaà präpta-kuïjaà smarämi
In the evening, Çré Våñabhänu-nandiné cooks some preparations
and sends them with Her sakhés to Nanda-bhavana. Yaçodäräëé
is very affectionate and loving to Çré Rädhä’s maidservants. She
feeds these preparations to the two brothers, Räma and Kåñëa, as
well as to the other family members. Maiyä places the remaining
prasäda in the hands of the maidservants to give to Çré Rädhä.
Kundalatä or Dhaniñöhä indicate the whereabouts of that night’s
meeting place to the maidservants, who give Çré Rädhä the news
from Nanda-bhavana as well as the remaining prasäda. They tell
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Her, “Sväminé, Your priyatama lovingly ate the manohara-laòòu
You made.” Describing the mood with which Kåñëa took each
preparation, the sakhés serve the rest of the prasäda and prepare
Sväminé for Her rendezvous (abhisära).
rädhä våndä upadeçe, yamunopaküladeçe,
säìketika kuïje abhisäre
sitäsita-niçä-yogya, dhari’ veça kåñëa-bhogya,
sakhé-saìge sänanda antare
gopa-sabhä-mäjhe hari, nänä-guëa-kalä heri’,
mätå-yatne karila çayana
rädhä-saìga soìariyä, nibhåte bähira haiyä,
präpta-kuïja kariye smaraëa
Bhajana-rahasya-våtti
In accordance with Çré Våndä-devé’s indication, Çrématé Rädhikä
goes to a keli-kuïja on the bank of the Yamunä for Her abhisära
with Kåñëa, bringing a few faithful maidservants or some priyanarma-
sakhés with Her. These most beloved sakhés dress Kiçoré
in black cloth on dark nights and in white on moonlit nights, and
then they very carefully and blissfully take Her for abhisära.
At that time, Çré Kåñëa is watching a charming performance of
music, singing, magical tricks, drama and other arts in the assembly
of the cowherds. Later, He hears Yaçodä-maiyä sing Him a
lullaby and He feigns sleep. Then, to attain the association of
Kiçoré, He slips away from the royal palace and proceeds alone
to the kuïja where They will meet.
The qualified sädhaka, while performing harinäma-kértana,
will lovingly remember these pastimes of the seventh yäma.
Thus ends the Saptama-yäma-sädhana,
Pradoña-käléya-bhajana, of Çré Bhajana-rahasya.

3 6 3
Text 1
Steadiness in perfection – that is, one-pointed dependence on
Kåñëa – is described in Çikñäñöaka (8):
äçliñya vä päda-ratäà pinañöu mäm
adarçanän marma-hatäà karotu vä
yathä tathä vä vidadhätu lampaöo
mat-präna-näthas tu sa eva näparaù
Let that debauchee (Kåñëa) tightly embrace this maidservant,
who is devoted to serving Him, and thus delight Me. Or, let Him
trample Me under His feet, or break My heart by not giving Me
His darçana. He may do whatever He desires. Even if He sports
with His other beloveds directly in front of Me, He is still My
präëanätha. In My heart there is none other than Him.
ämi – kåñëa-pada-däsé, teìho – rasa-sukha-räçi,
äliìgiya kare ätmasätha
kibä nä deya daraçana, järena mora tanu-mana,
tabu tiìho mora präëanätha
Añöama-yäma-sädhana
8
Rätri-lélä – prema-bhajana sambhoga
(from midnight to three-and-a-half praharas of the night:
approximately 00.00 A.M. – 3.30 A.M.)









Om Tat Sat
                                                        
(Continued...)

(My humble salutations to  the lotus feet of  Swami jis great Devotees , Philosophic Scholars, Purebhakti dot com       for the collection)