Appeasement of Radhika Read online

  Source of all yoga

  Attainer of meditation siddhi

  Immersed in meditation

  Is the divine Bala Gopala.

  2. ‘So do listen, dear King,’

  Continued Vyasa’s son to Janaka,

  ‘Sweeter than sugar

  Is this divine experience.’

  Then Shrihari, controlling the overwhelming sadness that enveloped him, completed his daily tasks and ablutions, and dressed himself in new silken clothes. Dining on delicious food offered by beautiful maidens, he then went to his in-laws, respectfully taking their blessings and leave. ‘For many days have I enjoyed your hospitality,’ he said, and leaving orders for Iladevi to be sent home later, honouring the relatives who came bearing gifts, he mounted his golden chariot. With great haste and speed did he go, arriving at Vrindavan in record time. Dismounting and paying homage to the sages and teachers, he then proceeded to meet his parents Nanda and Yashoda, who greeted him with great love and pleasure. Though thinking of his beloved all the while, he decided to wait until nightfall.

  3. Then, as the full moon rose,

  Spreading its silvery brilliance,

  Fragrance from budding jasmines

  Enveloped lush gardens,

  The Lord, anxious and eager,

  Proceeded to the home of his Radha …

  4. ‘Where are you going?’ the maidens asked,

  ‘I’m available, take me first then go.’

  He glowered angrily,

  Pushing them away.

  ‘I will accompany you, wait for me,’

  Said others, as he frowned.

  ‘Come to me,’ invited some,

  As he swore at them.

  ‘She’s abandoned you, don’t go to her,

  Stop,’ echoed many others.

  Worrying that being waylaid was a bad omen,

  Fretful, the great Yadava hurried,

  His mind focused on Radha.

  5. Seeing Shrihari approach,

  The excited parrot flapped and squawked,

  Loudly announcing his arrival.

  Immediately gathering her maids, Radha ordered:

  ‘Be sure you don’t allow him entry!

  Don’t hesitate, stop him for sure,’ she instructed.

  6. ‘Certainly, whatever you order,’

  They chorused cheerfully,

  Happy to catch a glimpse of the Lord.

  Delighted at last to meet the man,

  With a gait like Manmatha’s elephants,

  They stood at the doorstep,

  Vigilant.

  7. Souri, his longing for Radha growing,

  Was immune

  To sight, sound or advice

  Confident as always

  He arrived at Radha’s doorstep,

  When, abruptly, a maid stepped forward,

  Blocking him.

  8. ‘Stop! Who are you to barge in?’

  ‘Am I not the Lord of this house?’

  ‘Ah! Think again. Out you go!’

  ‘You are asking me to leave? You dishonourable maid!’

  ‘What, by the way, brings you here?’

  ‘Why will I come unless I had something to do?’

  ‘Oh! Those deeds still? They’re no longer valid, now leave.’

  ‘Is a nephew a stranger to an aunt?’

  ‘But Murari, you have come for the night’s “bargains”.’

  ‘That’s because, dear lady, I’m already done with the day’s bargains!’

  ‘Such exaggerations … Where did you learn such things?’

  ‘Ah! I’m well trained by your mistress!’

  9. ‘Distasteful words you utter and yet want to win!’

  ‘Novice am I, bear with me, stop this sweet banter.’

  ‘But if it’s sweet, why do you stop me?

  If she overhears, you know her temper, so be on your way!’

  ‘But if the goddess herself is angry, where can I go?’

  ‘Off you go and take your Ila with you, be happy with her.’

  ‘Who? Who is Ila? Who am I?’

  ‘Since when are you given to introspection?’

  ‘Once I started meeting beauties like you.’

  ‘Oh! You mock me so, you lowly cowherd!’

  ‘Should I not pay you back some, lovely lady?’

  10. ‘Sullied are you, touch us not, O Souri!

  Go and be with all those other women.’

  ‘I swear on your honour, I’ve done nothing.

  I’ll swear on anything you want, lovely lady!’

  11. ‘Why then are your eyes red?’

  ‘I can’t sleep, thinking of Radha!’

  ‘What are those scratch marks?’

  ‘From looking in the rose bushes for her!’

  ‘Why then are there teeth marks?’

  ‘I bit myself in anger, cursing Brahma for my plight.’

  ‘What about those long strands of hair on your attire?’

  ‘Oh, those are arrows that Manmatha rained on me.’

  ‘What’s that perfume emanating from you?’

  ‘Sandalwood used to cool my heated body.’

  ‘Why are you dressed in such silken splendour, Padmanabha?’

  ‘Haven’t you heard I always wear pitambara?

  12. ‘I could catch snakes, if you so order!’

  ‘Fie! What will a snake do to one who’s destroyed the arrogance of all snakes?’

  ‘I could walk on fire …’

  ‘But what can fire do to one capable of consuming all sacred fires?’

  ‘I can fight the gods …’

  ‘How can gods defeat you, sovereign of the three worlds?’

  ‘I promise on myself!’

  ‘O omniscient one, can anyone question your honour?’

  ‘Shall I make a garland of truth and offer it to you?’

  ‘But you are the very embodiment of truth.’

  ‘Then I will go and touch Radha’s lotus feet …’

  ‘Off you go, go and touch Ila’s!’

  13. After he heard her words,

  Sridhara, determined to brave it,

  Tried with dignity to enter

  But seeing this

  The maid shouted warnings:

  14. ‘O lady with the cloud-like tresses

  O fish-eyed one with the beautiful face

  O sweet-lipped one, my slim-necked beauty

  O you with the firm breasts

  O one with the slim waist and strong thighs

  O one with the small feet and graceful gait!

  Beware, beware, beware,

  The butter thief is here again!

  Come on, get up,’ and as she shouted so,

  Others came forward

  Forming a phalanx

  As if to counter

  The onslaught of Manmatha’s army.

  15. ‘Leave, leave’, they shooed him,

  their eyes flashing red.

  But oh so quietly, one maid bending slightly,

  Her desire showing,

  Showered lotuses on him …

  One scattered sampangi flowers

  While another came with jasmine fresh,

  Shouting loudly, they advanced.

  One threw tulips, another scented water

  Forming a barricade they stood

  Holding him back.

  ‘Wait,’ they ordered, Radhika’s maidens.

  16. Puzzled by conflicting signals,

  Surrounded by smiling maidens

  Their breasts touching him,

  Long tresses falling over him,

  Leaving trails of nail marks,

  Amid them stood Shrihari, troubled,

  Like an elephant.

  17. ‘Should you behave so?

  Simply because I looked at you with affection?

  Kindly persuade Radhika

  Bring us both together,

  And go live with honour.’

  18. ‘You do not deserve her friendship,’

  Said one, clucking with irritat
ion.

  ‘Where has this wisdom come from?’

  Asked another, throwing up her hands.

  ‘You weren’t concerned about anyone until now,’

  Said another, moving her waist provocatively.

  ‘Now suddenly we’ve become important!

  What might look like a day for a master

  Seems like an age for a servant,’

  Said another, earrings dancing against her cheeks.

  19. The maids continued teasing,

  Realizing that they weren’t doing him any good,

  Krishna spoke clear and loud,

  So Radha could hear:

  20. ‘Come out and listen,

  O petal of the maruvam plant

  My sampangi-scented lover,

  Please listen to me, my darling.

  21. ‘If you’re so unhappy,

  Why don’t you come out?

  Hold me against yourself tight,

  Shout at me and slap my cheeks,

  Hurt me with your flowing hair …

  Instead, you have given me up to

  These roguish handmaidens, O Radhika!

  22. ‘Look, there’s Manmatha hiding,

  Ready with his sugarcane bow

  Aimed direct at my heart.

  Bees buzz loudly as

  Drunken parrots cry shrilly.

  The gentle breeze blows, my lady.

  Did the Creator create you to torture me?

  23. ‘My darling, away from you,

  Forlorn and sleepless,

  With no one to offer me succour,

  Alone, a stranger in my own land,

  I stand listening to abuse all round,

  Cursing fate, remembering the past …

  Can’t you show some empathy?

  24. ‘O Lord! O Rama! Can anyone make such a fuss?

  Can withered fruit bear iron shackles?

  Enough is enough,

  Stop this churlish behaviour!

  Let’s play the game of love, my lady,

  That’s what I say to you, my lovely.

  25. ‘Pity me. Forgive me. Take me into your arms.

  Make me feel good. Befriend me. Respect my feelings.

  Show me love. Fill me with happiness. Forget your anger.

  I can’t bear it!

  I beg of you, Radhika.

  26. ‘Accomplished are you in the art of love,

  The only one who can satiate me,

  Delight me with your embraces.

  I stand before you, beseeching you,

  Believing in you.

  Yet you listen to those

  Callous women,

  Throwing me at their mercy?’

  27. Supplications falling on deaf ears

  Receiving no response

  Souri addressed the parrot, gently,

  ‘My dear parrot, I need your help!

  28. ‘O little one, are you angry too?

  Listen to me,

  Show me some sympathy

  Bring back her grace and love to me.’

  29. Astounded at these pleas,

  The little bird stepped back,

  Faithful always to his lady

  Beseeching her with his whispers.

  He approached Hari, wings flapping.

  30. ‘Well, well, well, who is this?

  Ah! It’s the dark-skinned one,

  With his moon-shaped face

  Inspiring love

  The one with the piercing glances

  Pearly teeth, and large hands …

  31. ‘Ah! It’s the great Gopala, isn’t it?

  Where do you live?

  We haven’t seen you for a while here, have we?

  Blessed are we to see your lotus feet

  Our wishes have, finally, been granted.’

  32. Hearing the parrot’s sarcasm,

  Hari took it in his arms,

  Caressed and kissed it,

  With love and tenderness

  And spoke amicably:

  33. ‘The one who speaks sweetly is a parrot

  The one who carries the Love God himself is you

  Is it fair then to insult me, Kamadeva’s father?

  Dear bird, stop this,

  Advise Radha to show some pity.’

  34. Hearing him, the bird parroted:

  ‘Rejecting me, he went to another.

  How should I address him, dear maidens?

  My place, my love he gave another.

  Should I see him again, dear ladies?

  All promises he’s broken.

  Should I ever trust him again, my friends?

  He insulted me amongst my equals.

  Should I still be his friend?’

  35. Turning to him, the parrot said:

  ‘Like a snake emerging from a burning stake

  Hissing and angry,

  She’s raised her hood

  How can I take you to her?

  Knowing everything,

  You still seek my help,

  But, my man, things have changed,

  It’s not like before,

  I can’t bring you together.’

  36. More and more, the parrot grew despondent,

  As Krishna cajoled over and again:

  ‘Listen, king of the parrot clan,

  No one else can do this but you.

  Please, oh please, explain my condition.

  37. ‘Tell her, “Dear lady, don’t insult your nephew.”

  Say to her, “You raised him, you know what he’s like.”

  Ask her, “Who will care for him if you abandon him?

  He acknowledges his mistakes, and then some.

  Only your kisses will keep him alive.”

  Tell her, “A man like him is hard to find.”

  38. ‘Don’t you carry my son around?

  Pretend I’m him then,

  For he and I are but one.

  So find a way and convey my desperation …

  My fate is in your hands, O king of parrots!

  39. ‘Stay impartial, don’t spoil my chances

  I am sure you can save my life, O parrot!

  Kindly bring the sweet-talking lady to me …’

  40. Having heard him out, the parrot said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with me; I understand you completely and I will repeat everything to her clearly. But obviously, you need God on your side, O lotus-eyed man. Now have some faith in me.’

  41. Saying this, the parrot flew back in and repeated the conversation to Radha. The maidens listened, delighting at Krishna’s plight and discomfort, nonetheless begging the irate Radha to reconsider.

  42. ‘O lady with the gorgeous dark tresses!

  For our sakes, call the slayer of rakshasas,

  Who now claims to be your servant.

  “Go away, go away,” we shooed him

  But he stayed, refusing,

  Like one who even after being necked out, dangles from the roof.’

  43. As she heard this, Radha turned away,

  Anklets loudly echoing her ire

  Turning her head away

  Pretending not to hear the parrot,

  She stepped away.

  44. ‘Come in now, come in quick,’ whispered the parrot,

  ‘The moment’s opportune!’

  So, pushing aside obstructing maidens, holding his swirling pitambara,

  Quieting his chiming anklets,

  Treading noiselessly he moved,

  Heart filled with fear and longing,

  The father of Manmatha,

  Stood waiting at the door.

  45. ‘What will she say? How will she behave?

  What will she think? What am I to say?

  How should I behave?

  Kamadeva should come to our rescue

  For can we stop loving each other?’

  Thinking, worrying and tormented thus,

  He hurried inside.

  46. Filled with trepidation,

  The Lord of the cowherds entered,

  His heart racing, he entered
her room

  Where, on a bed adorned by fragrant flowers,

  sat Radhika, fuming …

  47. Submissively he stood,

  At her feet fanning,

  The breeze fuelling her smouldering anger,

  Then the killer of Mura gently

  Addressed the lotus-eyed damsel:

  48. ‘How come you haven’t bathed?

  Why aren’t you dressed?

  Why is your forehead bare?

  Where’s your jewellery?

  Why don’t you have flowers in your hair?

  And where’s the perfume?

  What crime did I commit?

  My lady, I beg you, do explain.

  49. ‘Your once brilliant face like the sun burns

  Your sharp glances like Kama’s arrows pierce

  Your once firm breasts have turned into an unyielding fortress

  Your shimmering body has turned rare as gold

  Your incomparable beauty evades me …

  Pray what’s the reason for this anger?

  Please tell me, my lady.

  50. ‘Ominous silence like never before

  You of the sweet voice, why don’t you speak?

  Alleging a crime that’s non-existent,

  Why don’t you give me your heart?

  You with the dark tresses

  Forgetting our friendship

  Hide your face now.

  51. ‘O gracious lady,

  Why do you ignore me,

  Me, who is so dependent on you?

  Lady with the lotus feet, you neglect me!

  Even Kamadeva seems vengeful

  Can’t you but show some love,

  Some pity?

  52. ‘You raised me, you raised her too

  You trained her as well

  Sending her to me

  Yourself

  So, why are you angry now?

  Is this right?

  53. ‘You forgave me in the past,

  Held me against your breasts,

  Lips joined together,

  Seducing and tempting me

  Slowly, gently

  You’d make love, gracious lady.

  54. ‘My beloved, wasn’t it because it competed with your tresses

  That I stamped on Kalinga, serpent on the seas?

  My lady, wasn’t it because it competed with your eyebrows

  That I broke Kamsa’s bow?

  Honey, wasn’t it because it competed with your breasts

  That I uprooted Govardhana?

  My darling, wasn’t it because he competed with your buttocks

  That I destroyed Sakatasura

  Wasn’t it because it competed with your face

  That I vanquished the moon and his race?

  Why do you think

  I hurt Kuvalayapeeda?

  The elephant seemed to rival

  Your comely gait!

  Is it fair to behave thus with me?

  Give it a thought, my lady with a swan’s gait?

  55. ‘You sheltered me when I was young,

  Offering me sweet drinks from your lips,