Sri Vidagdha-Madhava (Clever Krishna)
by Srila Rupa Goswami
Act Two: Manmatha-lekha
The Love-letter
Scene 1
TEXT 1 (a)
(tatah pravisati nandimukhi.)
nandimukhi: aditthamhi tattahodi-e paurnamasi-e, jadha: a-i nandimuhi, sudam ma-e nibbhara asuttha-sarira me vaccha rahi. ta gadu-a janini se tattam tti. tado muhara-gharam gamissam. (iti parikramya punah pasyanti.) kaham idha jjeva kandanti muhara-a-accha-i.
(Nandimukhi enters.)
Nandimukhi: Paurnamasi ordered me: "O Nandimukhi, I heard that my child Radha is feeling very ill. Go to hear and learn the truth of Her condition." That is why I am now going to Mukhara's house. [She begins to go, and then sees Mukhara.] Why is weeping Mukhara coming here?
TEXT 1 (b)
mukhara: haddhi haddhi, hadamhi manda-bha-ini.
nandimukhi: ajje muhare, kisa ro-asi.
mukhara: (vilokya) vacche, rahi-sandavana.
Mukhara: (enters) Alas! Alas! I am ruined! I am very unfortunate!
Nandimukhi: Pious Mukhara, why do you weep?
Mukhara: (glancing at Nandimukhi) Child, because of Radha's suffering.
TEXT 1 (c)
nandimukhi: kerimam cettha-i rahi.
mukhara: vacche, va-ula bhavi-a kimvi palava-i.
Nandimukhi: What does She do?
Mukhara: Child, She talks like a madwoman.
TEXT 1 (d)
(iti sanskritena) kruranam alinam kulaih malinaya krityam na me malaya
balaham kim u narmanas tava padam duri-bhava pranganat
ity adini duraksharahi paritah svapne tatha jagare
jalpanti jalajekshana kshapayati klesena ratrim divam
(in Sanskrit) "Cruel bumblebees should not blacken My flower garland. I am only a girl. Why do you joke like that? Go far away from this courtyard." Awake and asleep talking in that crazy way, the lotus-eyed girl suffers day and night.
TEXT 2 (a)
nandimukhi: (svagatam) uvasaggakida na kkhu erisi palava-mudda. ta ditthi-a vikkamidam ettha kanha-vilasena.
mukhara: vacche, aham gadu-a bhaavadim vinnavissam. tumam vedasi-kunjam uvasappi-a rahi-am peccha. (iti nishkrante.)
Nandimukhi: (aside) That talk is not the mark of madness. It is the mark of good fortune, of being overcome by Lord Krishna's pastimes.
Mukhara: Child, I will go to the noble lady and tell her. You go to the vetasi grove and watch Radha. (They exit.)
TEXT 2 (b)
(tatah pravisati sakhibhyam upasyamana radha.)
radha: (sodvegam svagatam.) hadahi-a-a. jassa padicchanda-damsanamettado irisi duruha-sangama uvatthida de avastha ttha vi puno ram-am vahasi.
(Served by two friends, Lalita and Visakha, Radha enters.)
Radha: (Agitated, she says to herself) O wounded heart, simply by looking at a picture you have fallen wildly and passionately in love.
TEXT 2 (c)
ubhe: hala rahi-e amayehinto vilakkhano de ve-ananubandhe lakkhi-adi. ta kisa amhesu tattam na kadhesi.
(radhika nihsvasya vaktram vyavartayati.)
Lalita and Visakha: Radha, we see how You suffer. Why will You not tell us the truth? (Radha sighs and turns her face away.)
TEXT 2 (d)
visakha: (puro 'bhigamya. sanskritena)
cinta-santatir adya krintati sakhi svantasya kim te dhritim
kim va sincasi tamram ambaram ati-avedambhasam dambaram
kampas campaka-gauri lumpati vapuh-sthairyam katham va balat
tathyam bruhi na mangala parijane sangopanangi-kritih
Visakha: (confronting Radha, in Sanskrit) O friend, why do these sufferings cut to pieces the peacefulness in Your heart? Why do You sprinkle Your red garments with a flood of perspiration? O girl fair like a yellow campaka flower, why does trembling now break the steadiness of Your body? Please tell the truth. It is not good to hide the truth from Your friends.
TEXT 3 (a)
radhika: (sasuyam) a-i nitthure visahe, tumam evam pucchanti vi na lajjasi.
visakha: (sasankam) hala, kahim pi avaraddhamhi tti na sumarami.
Radhika: (indignat) Cruel Visakha, are you not ashamed to question me in this way?
Visakha: (worried) Perhaps I once offended you, but I do not remember it.
TEXT 3 (b)
radhika: a-i nikkive, kisa evvam bhanasi. sumari-a pekkha.
visakha: hala, garu-ena vi panihanena na me sumaranam hodi.
Radhika: Merciless girl, why do you talk like that? Remember and look.
Visakha: Even with a great effort, I still do not remember.
TEXT 3 (c)
radhika: ummatte, gahane imamssi accahidahala-kunde tumam jjeva maha pakkhevani.
visakha: kadham vi-a.
radhika: (sershyam) a-i micchasarale, alekkhagada-bhu-anga-sangini, cittha cittha.
Radhika: Crazy girl, you threw Me into the lake of eternal burning fire!
Visakha: How is that?
Radhika: (with malice and impatience) Crooked liar, friend of the snake in this picture! Stay! Stay!
TEXT 3 (d)
(iti savaivasyam sanskritena)
vitanvanas tanva marakata-rucinam ruciratam
patan nishkrianto 'bhud dhrita-sikhi-sikhando nava-yuva
(ity ardhoktau vak-stambham natayati.)
(sakhyau sabhrubhangam anyo 'nyam pasyatah.)
(Overcome, Radha says in Sanskrit) Splendid like sapphires and decorated with peacock feathers, a teenage boy stepped out of that picture. (In the middle of Her words, Her voice becomes choked. Her two friends look at each other with raised eyebrows.)
TEXT 3 (e)
bhruvam tena kshiptva kim api hasatonmadita-mateh
sasi vritto vahnih param ahaha vahnir mama sasi
When He smiled and moved His eyebrows, my heart became mad. The fire in My heart shone like the moon. Then the moon of My heart entered the fire.
TEXT 4 (a)
lalita: hala, kim eso sivinnassa vilaso.
Lalita: Did this happen in a dream?
TEXT 4 (b)
radhika: (sanskritena)
kim svapnasya vilakshana gatir iyam kim jagarasyathava
kim ratrer upasattir eva rabhasad ahnah kim ahnaya va
ittham syamala-candrika-paricaya-spandena sandipitair
antah-kshobha-kulair aham parivrita prajnatum ajnabhavam
Radhika: (in Sanskrit) Was it a dream, or was I awake? Was it night, or was it day? I do not know. The light from the dark moon of that teenage boy filled My heart with flames.
TEXT 5 (a)
visakha: (sakutam) hala rahe, nunam eso de citta-vibbhamo jevva kkhani-o.
radhika: (sabhyasuyam) a-i avisaddhe, viramehi, kisa appano dosam jhampidum pa-ttasi.
Visakha: (with feeling) O Radha, Your heart was bewildered for a moment.
Radhika: (indignant) Faithless girl, stop! Why try to cover up your offense?
TEXT 5 (b)
(iti sanskritena)
kritam bhakti-cchedair ghusrina-ghana-cardam adhivahan
punar labdho lubdhah priyaka-taru-mule catula-dhih
lapantyah sakshepam nahi nahi nahiti smita-mukhe
hathan me durlilah sa kila bhuja-valli-dalam adhat
(in Sanskrit) Decorated with designs drawn in kunkuma, that passionate mischievous boy sat under a kadamba tree. Saying “No! No! No!", I pushed Him away. Then that rogue forcibly touched Me with a flower petal from the blossoming vine of His arm.
TEXT 6
tatas ca
daronmilan-nilotpala-dala-rucas tasya nibidad
virudhanam sadyah kara-sarasija-sparsa-kutukat
vahanti kshobhanam nivaham iha najnasisham idam
kva vaham ka vaham cakara kim aham va sakhi tada
Longing for the touch of the lotus hand of that boy dark like a blue lotus petal, I trembled. Where was I? Who was I? What was I doing? Friend, I did not know.
TEXT 7 (a)
(iti vaivasyam natayati svagatam.) a-i duttha-hia-a makkada, kanho vainavi-o samala-kisoro tti tinesu purisesu ra-am vahanto vi tumam na lajjasi. ta danim appanam pamaram tumam hadasam karissam.
(Agitated, She says to herself:) Wicked heart! Monkey! Are you not ashamed to love three persons simultaneously? You love Krishna, and you also love the flute-player, and now you love this dark teenage boy. O heart, when I kill my body, I will also kill wretched, hopeless you.
TEXT 7 (b)
lalita: hanta, hata-mammaha-sacivassa vasantassa vipphujidena dusida ede parisara disanti. ta kim ettha saranam.
Lalita: Look! Springtime, the prime minister of King Kamadeva, has come and polluted everything. Who will save us from him?
TEXT 7 (c)
radhika: (sanskritena)
vikridantu patira-parvata-tati-samsargino marutah
khelantah kalayantu komalataram pums-kokilah kakalim
samrambhena silimukha dhvani-bhrito vidhyantu man-manasam
hasyantyah sakhi me vyatham param ami kurvanti sahayakam
Radhika: (in Sanksrit) Let the breezes from the sandalwood mountains play. Let the playful cuckoos sweetly sing. Let the buzzing bees attack My heart. Friend, they will help Me end My troubles.
TEXT 8 (a)
ubhe: (sasram) hala, edahim ghora-cintahim kisa kilimmasi. amhehim takkidam adi-metta-dullaho na kkhu de hi-a-atthido attho.
Lalita and Visakha: (weeping) Why were You attacked by these terrible sufferings? We do not understand the unusual longings in Your heart.
TEXT 8 (b)
radhika (nihsvasya sanskritena)
iyam sakhi suduhsadhya
radha hridaya-vedana
krita yatra cikitsapi
kutsayam paryavasyati
Radhika: (sighs) My dear friend, these palpitations of Srimati Radharani's heart are extremely difficult to cure. Even if one applied some medical treatment, it would only end in defamaion.*
TEXT 9 (a)
ta vinnavemi imamssi osare jadha sudidham ekkam lada-pasam lahemi tadha sinehessa nikkidim karedha.
I will tell you how to cure Me. If this flowering-vine were wrapped about My neck like a noose, and I were hanged, then you would cure My disease of love.
TEXT 9 (b)
ubhe: (savyatham) hala, evvam darunam bhananti ma kkhu sahinam jividam lumpehi. nam paccasanna ahittha-siddhi.
Lalita and Visakha: (agitated) Don't talk in that horrible way! Don't break your friends' lives! Soon You will attain what You long for.
TEXT 9 (c)
radhika: sahio, na janidha ima-e hada-rahi-e hi-a-a- duddhatanam, jam evvam matedha.
Radhika: Friends, you speak this advice only because you do not know the evil in wounded Radha's heart.
TEXT 9 (d)
kadhidam jevva savvam pi-a-sahi-e.
radhika: nahu nahu, guru-i lajja nivaredi.
Lalita and Visakha: Our dear friend has told us everything.
Radhika: No, no. Her great shame stops Her from revealing it.
TEXT 9 (e)
sakhyau; hala, appasa-asado vi guru-o amhesu tuha sineho lakkhi-adi. ta bahiranga-e lajja-e ko attha anuroho.
Lalita and Visakha: We see Your great love. How can Your shame, standing outside, hide it?
TEXT 9 (f)
radhika: (sanskritena)
ekasya srutam eva lumpati matim krishneti namaksharam
sandronmada-paramparam upanayaty anyasya vamsi-kalah
esha snigdha-ghana-dyutir manasi me lagnah pate vikshanat
kashtam dhik purusha-traye ratir abhun manye mritih sreyasi
Radhika: (Sanskrit) Since I have heard the name of a person called Krishna, I have practically lost My good sense. Then, there is another person who plays the flute in such a way that after I hear the vibration, intense madness arises in My heart. And again there is still another person to whom My mind becomes attached when I see His beautiful lightning effulgence in His picture. Therefore I think that I am greatly condemmed, for I have become simultaneously attached to tree persons. It would be better for Me to die because of this.*
TEXT 10 (a)
ubhe: (saharsham) hala, kadham tumhadisinam go-ula-sundarinam go-ulinda-nandanam ujjhi-a aparamssi anura-o sambhavadi. ta sunahi. ekko jjevva eso maha-na-aro kanho.
Lalita and Visakha: (happily) How can beautiful girls of Gokula like You turn from Krishna and fall in love with some other man? Listen. The three persons are one. They are all the hero Krishna.
TEXT 10 (b)
radhika: (socchvasam atmagatam) hi-a-a, samasassa samasassa. danim jada ji-alo-a-nivasa-lalasa.
Radhika: (breathes a sigh of relief and say to Herself:) Heart, be peaceful. Be peaceful. The man you long to attain is the home of all beings and all worlds.
TEXT 10 (c)
ubhe: (sanskritena)
sa saurabhormi-paridigdha-digantarapi
vandhyam januh sutanu gandha-phali bibharti
radhe na vibhrama-bharah kriyate yad-anke
kamam nipita-madhuna madhusudanena
Lalita and Visakha: O beautiful, slender Radha, even if it anoints the directions with waves of sweet fragrance, a flowering priyangu vine lives in vain if a playful bumblebee does not drink it's honey.
Note: The bumblebee (madhusudana) here is Krishna.
TEXT 11 (a)
nandimukhi: (parikramya) kaham aggado jevva esa rahi. (ity upasritya) ja-adu ja-adu pi-asahi.
radhika: (savahittham) sahi, kusalam bhaavadi-e.
Nandimukhi: (walking, enters) Why is Radha here? (approaches Radha) Glory, glory to my dear friend!
Radhika: (concealing her emotions) Friend, I hope you are well.
TEXT 11 (b)
nandimukhi: tuha ullahattane jade (iti radham nibhalya svagatam.) appekkhi-a cce-a ma-e padham nittankidam. tadhavi pucchissam.
Nandimukhi: You are well, I see. (Looking at Radha, she says to herself) I do not see anything unusual. Perhaps She hides it. I will ask.
TEXT 11 (c)
(prakasam, sanskritena)
na mugdhe vaidagdhi-garima-paridigdha tava matir
viramo nedanim api vapushi balyasya vayasah
kam apy antah-kshobham prathayasi tathapi tvam athava
sakhi jnatam vrindavana-madana-visphurjitam idam
(Openly) Beautiful, foolish girl, Your heart is not anointed with great intelligence. You have not stopped being a child. Friend, either Your heart trembles in pain, or You gave met the Kamadeva that lives in Vrindavana forest.
TEXT 12 (a)
lalita: a-i ali-asankini, sidala-dakkhinanila-hetu-am kampa-pula-am pekkhi-a kisa dusaham parivadam desi.
Lalita: Suspicious girl, the trembling and standing up of hairs that you see is caused by the cold southern wind. Why do you make this terrible accusation?
TEXT 12 (b)
nandimukhi: (sasmitam, sanskritena)
romancah pariceshyate katham ayam nasmabhir utkampavah
dushkirtim nahi dakshinaya marute dakshinya-sunye vada
etan manmatha-koti-sambhrama-bharair bambhromyate subhruvah
svante nagara-cakravarti-nayana-prantasya lilayitam
Nandimukhi: (smiling, says in Sanskrit) If that is why the hairs of Her body stand up, then why do the hairs of our bodies not also stand up? O foolish girl, don't insult the southern wind in this way. The sidelong glance of He who is the king of heroes and whose graceful eyebrows are worshiped by millions of Kamadevas, now plays in this girl's heart.
TEXT 13 (a)
ta saccam kahehi. kada eda-e paccakkhi-kido go-ulanando.
visakha: evam nedam.
Tell the truth. When did She see Krishna, the bliss of Gokula?
Visakha: It is true.
TEXT 13 (b)
nandimukhi: (sanskritena)
dara-vicalita-balya vallabha bandhavanam
viharasi bhuvane tvam patyur amoda-patri
ahaha pasupa-rama kamino mohanatvam
tvam api yad amunantar badham unmaditasi
Nandimukhi: (in Sanskrit) A little past childhood, dear to Your kin, and a delight to Your husband, You enjoy pastimes in this world. Aha! Now You have fallen under the spell of a rake who enjoys with the gopas' wives. Now Your heart is wild with passionate love for Him.
TEXT 14 (a)
ta aham bhaavadim tuvaredum gamissam. (iti nishkranta).
I will go and quickly bring noble Paurnamasi. (She exits.)
TEXT 14 (b)
radhika: (vimrisya. sanskritena)
sa kalyani kula-yuvatibhih silita dharma-saili
grag asmabhih katham avinayotphullam ullanghaniya
(ity ardhokte. punah sotkantham.)
ha drig-bhangi-parimala-kala-karmatho 'yam katham va
hatum sakyah pasupa-nagari-nagari-nagarendrah
Radhika: (She reflects for a moment, and then says in Sanskrit) Why do we pious girls disobey the auspicious rules of religion? (She stops in the middle, and then again speaks, this time filled with longing.) Ah! How can I renounce the regal hero of the girls in this twon of gopas, a hero learned in the arts of crooked glances?
TEXT 15 (a)
(tatah pravisati nandimukhi-mukharabhyam anugamyamana paurnamasi.)
paurnamasi: mukhare, kim aduhsadha-badha tarkita tvaya radha
Mukhara: bhaavadi, sunahi.
(Followed by Nandimukhi and Mukhara, Paurnamasi enters.)
Paurnamasi: Mukhara, why do you think Radha suffers from an incurable illness?
Mukhara: Noble lady, listen.
TEXT 15 (b)
agre vikshya sikhanda acirad utkampam alambate
gunjanam ca vilokanan muhur asau parikrosati
no jane janayann apurva-natana-krida-camatkaritam
balayah kila citta-bhumim avisat ko 'yam navina-grahah
Upon seeing peacock feathers in front of Her, this girl suddenly begins trembling. When She sometimes sees a necklace of gunja (small conchshells), She sheds tears and cries loudly. I do not know what kind of new ecstatic influence has entered her heart of this poor girl. It has imbued Her with the dancing attitude of a player creating wonderful, unprecedented dances on a stage.*
TEXT 16 (a)
paurnamasi: (svagatam) so 'yam uddandasya navanuraga-raseh ko 'pi candima. (prakasam) mukhare, sadhu vijnatam. yad atra danava-kulavatamsah kamsadayo radham anvishyanti tena ko 'py ayam angana-graho balam avivesa.
Paurnamasi: (aside) This is the passion of intense new love. (Openly) Mukhara, I understand this very well. Kamsa and the other crowns of the demons are searching for Radha. They made a ghost enter this girl.
TEXT 16 (b)
mukhara: bhaavadi, ko ettha padi-aro.
paurnamasi: api danavarer drishtir eva.
Mukhara: Noble lady, what is the remedy?
Paurnamasi: The remedy is a glimpse Krishna, the sworn enemy of the demons.
TEXT 16 (c)
mukhara: bhaavadi, kudila kkhu jadila edam naninandissadi.
paurnamasi: mukhare, sa khalu mad-gira sandisyatam--"jatile, ma sankishthah. krishnam atmavidyayaiva sanghatyishyami" iti.
(mukhara namaskritya nishkranta.)
Mukhara: Noble lady, this will not please crooked Jatila.
Paurnamasi: Mukhara, I will tell her, "Jatila, don't worry. With my mystic power I will bring Krishna. (But this is not the Krishna who is the son of Nanda Maharaja)."
(Mukhara offers obeisances and exits.)
