Appeasement of Radhika Read online

  20. Then home alone

  She sighed at the sight of the large bed,

  Which she had shared with Krishna,

  Empty.

  Eyes blinded with tears

  Remembering his sweet whisperings,

  Chest welling up with sadness,

  Hearing her parrot repeatedly call Krishna,

  Body weakened with desire,

  She remembered how the Lord had touched her.

  21. Fretting as though scorched by the sun

  Murmuring as though bitten by a love bug

  Stunned as though the skies verily had collapsed

  Was Radha struck by Manmatha’s arrows.

  22. Fainting when the Moon King’s

  Soft beams touched her,

  Collapsing upon hearing the

  Buzzing of honey bees

  Struck as though by Yama

  Fretting though the soft breeze stroked her

  Stung as though by Rahu’s hisses

  Body shaking uncontrollably

  She bears the onslaught of the Love God’s thunder.

  23. Irritated by the sweet words repeated by her parrot

  Puzzled even at the melodious songs of the swan

  Terrified, she sat alone in her bedroom

  Immersed in her own thoughts.

  24. Fussing thus, vexed, she wondered:

  ‘Will I ever feast my eyes on him

  To my eyes’ content?

  Will I ever again listen

  To the flute of the demon-slayer?

  Will I ever get the chance to wash his feet?

  Will my body ever experience again

  The bliss of his embrace?

  Will we ever swim together in the lakes again?

  What does the future hold?

  O Lord, I cannot see!

  25. ‘He in whom all the rasas gather

  He who is all grace and compassion

  He who has bested even Manmatha

  Could I ever have enough

  Of that Madana Gopala?

  26. ‘His lotus feet bring pleasure to his devotees,

  Honey bees buzz about them

  As though reciting the Vedas

  Believing them to be lotus flowers!

  27. ‘Tigers quarrel with oxen,

  Elephants with tigers,

  Lions with elephants,

  Each claiming that it is their gait

  That resembles the Lord’s most.

  28. ‘Like the long nails of gods who kill demons,

  His own shimmer in white brilliance.

  His feet sparkle as though the celestial rivers three

  Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati

  Have there merged in confluence.

  29. ‘To reside at the sacred Sripada

  The incongruous pair appeared

  First the tortoise, the varaha next,

  For his feet had lamented

  Seeking a suitable pair to rest.

  30. ‘Souri’s ankles shine

  Caressed and lovingly pressed

  By Lakshmi, Bhoodevi and Ila,

  The Love God may trumpet his triumphs out loud

  But could he ever, ever equal the Lord?

  31. ‘Krishna’s muscular thighs thunder

  Oh, so taut and strong!

  For neither a nagari like Ila

  Nor a nagmani can even dent them.

  32. ‘The slim, curved neck of Hari

  Who lies on the great serpent,

  The neck from which dangles the dazzling kaustubha

  Appears like the shankh.

  And the rounded pitambara-clad waist of Gopalaswamy

  Appears like his chakra.

  33. ‘Long arms, reaching his knees

  Wide eyes whispering into his ears

  Shoulders raised as though to overhear these very whispers’

  Unhappily, she sighed

  Remembering them

  Missing not seeing them.

  34. ‘The threefold lines on his abdomen

  Assert the existence of worlds three

  His deep, round navel appears like

  A lotus afloat in dark, unfathomable waters.

  35. ‘Souri’s nails so smooth and strong

  Buffed just right, shining ever bright

  Beautifully curved like the crescent moon

  That leave marks on Ila’s body.

  36. ‘Khara, Mura and Kamsa

  These demons did he kill

  With these very divine hands

  Adorned by rings, amulets, jewels galore

  His lotus hands embody all power, all glory.

  37. ‘Strong and sturdy are his hands

  Offering sanctuary to one and all

  Strong as the vajra thunderbolt …

  The oppressor of demons though

  Is gentle and soft as he holds the hands

  Of his young maidens.

  38. ‘His hands so supple and smooth

  Open to shower blessings

  Like the very Kalpavriksha

  The heavenly wishing tree

  Does he shower largesse on one and all.

  39. ‘The shankh and the chakra he shoulders

  And the mountain in his hand

  Even the vast universe he carries on his head.

  Does he really need the help of these young maidens

  Who lead him by his hand?

  40. ‘The shankh fits into a fist

  His lotus feet are dainty

  There is no match for his slim, curved neck

  Small is he, people believe.

  Oh, how misplaced their thinking is

  For isn’t he Ananta, infinity itself?

  41. ‘From his lips spills nectar

  As his blue cheeks radiate sweetness

  Keenly he kisses every gopi

  Even as each kisses him back

  Ardently.

  42. ‘It isn’t simply red but an island of scarlet stone

  It isn’t simply an island but a well of nectar

  It isn’t simply a well but the flavour of karpuram

  It isn’t simply a flavour but Krishna’s sweet lips.

  43. ‘Pure and clear like a string of pearls,

  Sweet like sugar,

  Like a garden fragrant with flowers,

  The twitter of parrots,

  Is how Kamsa’s rival sounds.

  44. ‘Naturally full like the moon is Souri’s countenance

  His nectar-filled lips fragrant with kasturi

  His face radiant with unsurpassed compassion

  Makes the moon’s tulip

  Ecstatic with happiness.

  45. ‘Jasmine florets and fresh buds,

  Red flowers and his pristine smile,

  Beautiful teeth, sweet lips, nose so straight.

  Knowing that he is Madhava,

  Don’t these attributes

  By seers bestowed ring true?

  46. ‘The champak flowers bend

  Under the relentless melody of Murali’s flute.

  Garutmanta, the king of birds, impressed,

  Prostrated, offering his back for the Lord to rest.

  47. ‘Resplendent like mirrors

  Are the cheeks of the demon-slayer.

  If not, how would they engage onlookers,

  Captivating them in astonishment?

  48. ‘In penance wait

  The lotus and the tulip

  And the wise swans of the river

  For a glimpse of Souri’s wide eyes,

  Then as morn turns to night,

  Heaven and earth resound with melody.

  49. ‘The eyebrows of Murahara are no less

  Than the abodes of Manmatha

  Why else would the hearts of women flutter

  By merely looking at them?

  50. ‘Great seers and sages and sanyasis too

  Line up and gather

  His serene face to glimpse

  Tranquil, calm, composed.

  51. ‘“He Krishna, Govinda, Hare Murare!


  He Narayana!” They pray

  Imploring him to show his divine face,

  Even as he heeds their prayers true.

  52. ‘Craving a face like Souri’s,

  The enemy of the lotus, Chandra,

  Tried many a trick but failed

  Humbled thus, he bowed to the Love God.

  53. ‘The white lotus gazing

  On his gorgeous dark form,

  Performed drishti, to ward off the evil eye.

  On returning to his pond, he was revered by wise swans,

  Having been blessed by glancing at his holy face.

  54. ‘It isn’t darkness

  But a string of blue sapphires

  It isn’t indraneela

  But the gleaming wings of a male bee

  It isn’t shimmering bees

  But the web woven by Kama

  It isn’t the web of the Love God

  But the gossamer tresses of Keshava!

  55. ‘Will the flat surface of Neeladri ever

  Equal the smoothness of his hair?

  Will the darkness of the meandering Yamuna ever

  Equal his hair coiled up high?

  Will the tail of Rahu, the prince of darkness, ever

  Equal his endless, ceaseless tresses?

  Will the brightness of Agni ever

  Equal the sheen and shimmer of his hair?

  56. ‘Smooth, unentangled

  Hair sweeping upwards

  Partially covering the beautiful face

  Are the lustrous long tresses of Gopala.

  57. ‘There being no equal to the slayer of Sakata

  One can contest the Moon God

  There being no equal to Souri’s eyes

  One can challenge the lotus flower

  There being no equal to Krishna’s lips

  One can defy nectar

  There being no equal to his expansive chest

  One can challenge Adi Shesha

  There being no equal to the waist of the slayer of Kamsa

  One can petition Indra

  One can challenge Lord Brahma himself

  For indeed, Krishna is beyond compare.

  58. ‘That gracious gait,

  The muscular thighs and graceful waist,

  That smooth skin and budding moustache,

  Oh, those graces!

  Those piercing looks, like Manmatha’s arrows,

  That enchanting smile, that sweet voice

  Only he is capable of these.’

  59. Remembering Shrihari over and again, Radha, unable to bear her pain, narrated the anguish of being separated from her lover to her parrot:

  60. ‘Seductive whispers and loving glances,

  Tight embraces and appealing manners …

  Having experienced this,

  Would any woman give him away?

  None, but a demon like me!’

  61. Saddened thus, with thoughts forlorn,

  Feeling Kamadeva’s arrows intense

  She who looked like lightning struck,

  Addressed her parrot,

  Admired by many for its sweet speech

  Akin to honey from fresh flowers:

  62. ‘I will come in a moment, he said,

  But long has he been gone!

  Unkind man, why hasn’t he returned?

  Has he no pity?

  Have I no place in his heart?

  Or worse, is he subsumed with Ila?

  O Rama! My heart burns

  Pierced by Manmatha’s cruel arrows!

  Listen to me, my dear parrot …

  63. ‘My eyes haven’t closed since he left me

  Food has lost its flavour since he left me

  Conversation is impossible,

  And loneliness overwhelms

  The pangs of love make me restless

  Since he left

  Was I cruel to happy couples, in the past?

  Why did I fall so in love with his beautiful face

  That now the moon seems so distasteful?

  Why did I fall so in love with his smooth skin

  That now the flower-strewn bed seems cumbersome?

  Why did I fall so in love with his enchanting smile

  That now sweet milk seems tasteless?

  Why did I fall so in love with his sweet speech

  That now my parrot’s words irritate me?

  Why did I touch his sweet lips so

  That now I can’t stand the taste of sugar?

  What can I say?

  Is there a remedy?

  When can I meet him?

  How shall I survive until then?

  64. ‘My eyes seek only Hari

  My ears yearn to hear him, him alone

  My nose wants to inhale the perfume of his body

  My lips seek only his touch

  My cheeks await Hari’s nail marks

  My breasts the pressure of his chest

  These arms, they await his embrace

  My body longs to be by his side.

  65. ‘Every part of me seeks him separately,

  Even as my heart bleeds

  Why should I hide?

  My life and death depend on

  The realm of love that

  Hari shares with me.

  66. ‘My heart softens when I hear his sweet words

  My heart fills with love when I see his smiling face

  Desire swells when I stand by Hari’s side

  Can anyone forget these things, even if ordered to,

  Even for a moment?

  67. ‘Merely looking at Hari’s chest,

  My swelling breasts burst out of my blouse …

  Just hearing his sweet words

  Puts me in a joyous mood …

  As Manmatha’s father’s body touches mine,

  My being quivers with excitement …

  And as he overpowers me,

  My happiness knows no bounds …

  68. ‘If only I could possess Nanda Nandana,

  I would be the master of everything!

  Separated from him, lost am I.

  But what is to be done?

  When it is my karma,

  Scripted by the very creator.

  69. ‘I could leave my relatives,

  Abandon my husband, riches and paddy,

  The palace and other luxuries,

  Even my life and my body

  But not Hari,

  What else can I say?

  70. ‘How long can I sing praises of the Lord

  Who has left me,

  His promises falsified,

  As my friends mock,

  Revelling in my despondency

  What else can I complain of, O sweet parrot?

  71. ‘Last night, I dreamt of Hari

  With that melodious-voiced woman.

  He seemed impatient with me,

  And now even

  The song of the nightingale seems shrill.

  72. ‘So, dear parrot of mine,

  Forsake me and fetch my Hari.

  Kamadeva troubles me, my life is listless

  Desire overrides propriety

  As my body grows numb,

  My own God has become my enemy.

  73. ‘Krishna, my sweet Lord

  Hari, my handsome man

  My king, reward of my penance

  Balarama’s brother

  Nanda’s son, my darling

  Ruler of my life, my paramour

  My gorgeous, dark-skinned hero

  My lover

  My friend.

  74. ‘High and low

  Have I searched tirelessly

  Questioned and prayed unrelentingly

  Waited endlessly

  I’ve begged him to come

  Tell him this, my parrot, tell him!

  75. ‘But be warned!

  On seeing his fruit-like lips,

  Don’t forget me and my message!

  On seeing his lotus eyes and mischievous grin,

  Don’t forget me and my message!

  List
ening to his sugar-sweet words,

  Don’t forget me and my message!

  Melting at his nectar-like glances,

  Don’t forget me and my message!

  Believing his hands to be celestial branches,

  Don’t forget me and my message!

  76. ‘Once they see his beautiful face,

  Even sages forget their penance.

  What can I say then of people like us?

  So, parrot,

  Stay alert and repeat what I say.

  77. ‘Ah, and one more thing, my little one,

  Don’t give him my message

  If Ila is by his side!

  Ensure that he’s alone, take him aside

  And give him my message …

  Be clever!’

  78. Listening to Radha’s anguish,

  The compassionate parrot said:

  ‘Rest assured, my lady,

  Having given you his being,

  Can he think of another?

  79. ‘Dear girl

  Imagining it to be your neck

  Imagining it to be your waist

  Imagining it to be your ankle

  Imagining it to be your thigh

  Imagining it to be your eyebrow

  Imagining it to be your nose

  Imagining it to be your coiled hair

  Imagining it to be your sweet face

  He wears

  Shankh and chakra

  Mace and sword

  Kaustubha, flute, peacock feather, lotus …

  How can Hari leave you?

  Worry not, my dark-haired beauty

  I will present him to you in a moment.’

  80. ‘Tall claims do you make

  To present the one even Brahma couldn’t budge!’

  ‘With your blessings, I will bring him,’

  Promised the parrot.

  81. The sweet-talking parrot then departed

  Pledging to bring back the lotus-eyed one.

  She then, with maids, retired to the garden green,

  To wait … the long wait …

  82. Strolling sombrely

  Stroking each branch

  As leaves opened afresh at Vasantha’s touch

  Seeing her so forlorn, so restless, so distracted,

  Her maids approached,

  Making a play to divert her …

  83. ‘Oh, look! The garden’s in bloom …

  The pogadas and suraponna buds open

  The fragrance of the sampangi spreads

  The mandara, banthi and malle blossom

  Lotuses open and asoka buds flower

  Under Madhava’s influence.

  84. ‘Swans strut, confident of his protection,

  Nightingales sing his praises,

  Jakkava birds meditate upon him,

  While bees take on his blue,

  Parrots repeat Manmatha’s words,