Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nama Aparadha
We humbly offer this English edition of Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgraha to the compassionate hands of our
beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya
of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Srila Prabhupada taught that the main rule is to always remember Kṛṣṇa and never forget Him. In the
beginning days of ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada often talked about Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. Srila
Prabhupada printed the Kṛṣṇa book in 1969. He always encouraged everyone to read it and regularly
discuss Kṛṣṇa’s prema-filled pastimes.
Questions, questions, questions—we fill our days seeking answers to questions about food, money,
family, friends, business, living arrangements, recreation, education and sometimes questions about
Kṛṣṇa. During our busy days, do we ever stop to ask these three questions: Where are Rādhā-Govinda
right now? What are They doing? And what service can I do to please the Divine Couple?
Srila Prabhupada taught us to absorb our hearts and minds in hearing about Kṛṣṇa and serving Him
twenty-four hours a day. We dedicate Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgraha to Srila Prabhupada in hopes that it
will fulfill this instruction.
Acknowledgements
Ten years ago, Shri Gopala Candra Ghosh, the emeritus librarian of the Vṛndāvana Research Institute,
kindly gave us a copy of Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgraha. At that time, Gopāla said, “I know you cannot read
Sanskrit or Bengali. Nevertheless, you should understand that this is the best book ever compiled for
remembering the eternal pastimes of our beloved Rādhā-Govindajī. Because you are my friend, I
want to give it to you. You will surely cherish this out of print, rare gauḍīya-vaiṣṇava classic.” We
offer our heartfelt gratitude to Gopāljī for this wonderful gift, his helpful advice and his friendship
throughout the years.
Our Godbrother Shri Bhanu Swami did a fine job of translating the Sanskrit and Bengali verses into
clear mellow-filled English. While editing the text we regularly consulted the English translations of
the different works cited in Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgraha done by the following devotees to whom we give
our heartfelt thanks: Kusakrata dasa, Dasaratha Suta dasa, Advaita dasa, Haricarana dasa and
Gopiparanadhana dasa. Kunja-bihari dasa and Bhumipati dasa helped in various ways. We sincerely
thank all these friends for their help. May Rādhā-Giridhārī bless them with Their eternal service in
Vṛndāvana.
Biography
Śrī Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa Tātapāda
(Śrī Govardhana nivāsī)
Śrī Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa took birth in a prosperous Oriyan family somewhere around 1800 a.d. and
received the name Baṭ Kṛṣṇa. Before immolating herself on her husband’s funeral pyre, Baṭ Kṛṣṇa’s
mother instructed twelve-year old Baṭ Kṛṣṇa to go to Vraja and become a pure Vaiṣṇava. At the age of
sixteen, he finished his primary education and moved to Vṛndāvana where he studied Sanskrit for two
years.
Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa took dīkṣā in the line of Śrī Narottama Ṭhākura Mahāśaya, and learned the secrets
of bhajana from Śrī Vaiṣṇava Caraṇa dāsa of Brahma Kuṇḍa who compiled the Pada Kalpa Taru.
Once, Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa visited Jaipur with great eagerness to behold Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī’s beloved
Deity of Śrī Govindjīū. After feasting his eyes on the sweet form of Śrī Govindajīū, Siddha
Kṛṣṇadāsa begged the King of Jaipur to allow him to serve Govinda Deva throughout the eight
periods of the day and night (aṣṭakālīn sevā). The King was pleased by the request and posted
Kṛṣṇadāsa as the temple doorkeeper. Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa served Govindajī for many years and then
returned to Vraja. He stayed in the forest of Doman engaging in bhajana.
Occasionally he walked to nearby Nandagrāma to beg a little wheat flour, which he would mix with
water and eat raw. Sometimes he ate thick cāpātis mixed with neem leaves. Gradually he got too
weak to beg food and became blind. He stayed in the forest maintaining his life with a little water
from a kuṇḍa. Within a few weeks, Kṛṣṇadāsa could not even fetch water from the kuṇḍa.
Śrīmatī Rādhikā’s heart melted with compassion after seeing that Kṛṣṇadāsa had passed two or three
days without water. Catching Lalitā-sakhī’s hand, Rādhā said, “Do you wish to tarnish My name?
Why have you not shown your favor to Kṛṣṇadāsa? Here, immediately take this plate of prasādam to
him.”
Lalitāji delivered the prasādam to Kṛṣṇadāsa, saying, “Bābā! Please honor this prasādam. Seeing
your suffering condition, my mother sent this for you.”
Lalitā’s words acted like an elixir to revive the dying Kṛṣṇadāsa. Just the divine fragrance of the
prasādam gave Kṛṣṇadāsa the strength to sit up. Every cell in his body became surcharged with
supernatural energy by honoring the sacred food.
Lalitāji, dressed as a gopī maiden, asked, “Kṛṣṇadāsa! Why don’t you go to the village to beg food?”
Kṛṣṇadāsa: “I am blind so how can I go anywhere?”
Lalitāji: “If you could see would you go for madhukari?”
Kṛṣṇadāsa: “Yes, why not?”
Lalitāji: “My mother sent some salve with me. After I apply it to your eyes, you must keep your eyes
closed for at least an hour. Then your eyes will be better.”
Lalitā smeared the salve on Kṛṣṇadāsa’s right eye. As soon as she touched his left eye, Bābā opened
his eyes and he could see! But there was no one there and the prasādam plate had mysteriously
vanished. However, the most incredibly sweet celestial scent lingered in the air.
Three days later, a divine damsel, with a body more effulgent than millions of lightning bolts,
appeared one evening before Kṛṣṇadāsa and said, “Why are you anxious and feeling sad? You are
Mine and I am yours. By the magical touch of Lalitā, who is non-different from Me, you have not only
regained your eyesight, but you have also received My full blessings. Now give up all worries and go
to Govardhana. Help those who are firmly devoted to Me by showing them a simple method
(paddhati) to attain My lotus feet.”
After giving this command, the divine damsel, who was none other than Śrīmatī Rādhikā,
disappeared. Kṛṣṇadāsa remained inert for a long time as the eight ecstatic transformations (sāttvika
vikāra) took over his body. He considered his life completely successful by having Rādhā’s darśana
and by receiving Her order. Kṛṣṇadasa, overwhelmed with kṛṣṇa-prema, came to Govardhana and
did bhajana at Cākaleśvara on the bank of Manasī Gaṅga.
Kṛṣṇadāsa diligently studied Sanskrit in order to understand the esoteric writings of the Gosvāmīs.
He met an obstacle however, because his Sanskrit studies impeded his bhajana and vice versa.
Kṛṣṇadāsa chose to solve the problem by drowning in Mānasī Gaṅgā. Late one night, Śrī Sanātana
Gosvāmī and Śrī Lalitā-sakhī appeared before Kṛṣṇadāsa’s bhajana kutira and called him outside.
There Kṛṣṇadāsa saw Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmi with a quilt over his shoulder and a water pot in his
hand. He was accompanied by a young maiden effulgent with celestial charm, who was none other
than Śrī Lalitā-devī.
Śrī Sanātana Prabhu put his hand on Kṛṣṇadāsa’s head and compassionately said, “Look Kṛṣṇadāsa!
Are you getting enough food from begging to fill your belly?”
Kṛṣṇadāsa, his voice choked with emotion and his eyes welling with tears, replied, “Yes Prabhu!”
Śrī Sanātana blessed Kṛṣṇadāsa, “Please try to understand that the scriptures are endless. One can
only enter that infinite realm by the strength of his qualification. Why do you want to give up your
life? Do not entertain such harmful counsel within your mind. You must publish many books for the
mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. By my benediction the inner meaning of all the śāstras will
manifest within the core of your heart.”
Śrī Lalitā-devī said, “You should now describe the process of bhajana for the benefit of the
Vaiṣṇavas living in Vraja.” These divine personalities left instantly after blessing Kṛṣṇadāsa with the
touch of their lotus feet.
Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa was always absorbed in rāgānugā bhajana and very fond of hearing and chanting.
Sometimes he became stunned while chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy names and torrents of tears would flow
from his eyes. Day and night, Kṛṣṇadāsa was totally immersed in his personal bhajana. But He was
always willing to carefully instruct any sincere and inquisitive person about the intricacies of
internally worshiping Rādhā-Govinda.
Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa studied many scriptures and then wrote several books, including Bhāvanāsāra
Sangraha, Prārthanāmṛta Taraṅgiṇī, Paddhati and Sādhanāmṛta Candrikā to help sādhakas
remember the eight-fold daily pastimes of Śrīman Mahāprabhu along with those of Rādhā-Govinda.
He taught his system (paddhati) of internal bhajana to his followers. Every night he would meet them
to answer their questions and adjust their practices accordingly. The method was known as the
guṭikā, which means a pill or any fruit in its early stage of growth.
One evening, a student sat crying in the assembly. Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa consoled him and asked the
cause of his remorse. He replied, “I could not do any internal bhajana (manasi-seva) today. This
morning in my meditation, I tried to fix a bracelet on Śrī Prāṇeśvarī’s left hand. My mind, entranced
by the beauty of Rādhikā’s hand, got locked on that vision and I could not think of anything else all
day.”
Satisfied with his revelation, Kṛṣṇadāsa replied, “Your bhajana is going along just fine.”
Whomever Siddha Kṛṣṇadasa instructed in bhajana also became ‘siddha.’ When the transcendental
services performed in the bhāva-deha are sometimes expressed in the external physical body and
perceived by others, then one is called a siddha in bhajana. Bhāva-deha, or siddha-deha, is the
subtle internal body through which one serves Rādhā-Mādhava while engaged in meditation or
visualization of Their eternal transcendental pastimes.
Once while deeply meditating on his mañjarī svarūpa (siddha-deha), Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa was helping
Rādhikā throw colors on Śyāma during Their holi-līlā. When he returned to external consciousness,
Kṛṣṇadāsa found his physical body covered with āvīr (perfumed red powder), kuṅkuma (saffron),
gulāl (red powder), kastūrī (musk), karpūra (camphor) and sandalwood paste, all thrown during the
holi-līlā.
Another time, Rādhā-Mādhava were getting dressed and ornamented by Their sakhīs and mañjarīs
after playing in Mānasī Gaṅgā. Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa was amongst them in his mañjarī svarūpa holding a
vial of scented oil to offer to Rādhā-Mādhava. Kṛṣṇadāsa suddenly became spellbound by seeing the
Divine Couple laughing and joking. He dropped the vial of oil, which then perfumed the ten
directions.
Meanwhile, the Vaiṣṇavas at Mānasī Gaṅgā smelled an astonishingly attractive divine fragrance. They
inquired from Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa about its source. Kṛṣṇadāsa hung his head down in shame and
humbly replied, “Alas! What can I do my dear brothers! I am an offender; unfit for service. While
waiting to serve Priyā Priyatama, I became stunned in ecstasy and dropped the perfumed oil intended
for Their pleasure. This is the divine scent you perceive.”
Lālā Bābu came one day to accept bhek (dress of a paramahaṁsa) and Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa told him,
“You are a great enjoyer. For one year, you should feed wheat to some cows and eat only whatever
wheat remains in their stool.” Lālā Bābu did it and attained the favor of Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa.
Śrī Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa disappeared from this world on the fourth day of the bright fortnight in the
month of Āśvin (Sept-Oct).
Introduction
A honeybee continually drinks nectar by flying from one flower to another. In Bhāvanāsāra
Saṅgraha, Śrī Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa delivers a continuous flow of divine nectar by quoting from one
rasa-filled scripture after another to depict the all-attractive, eternal pastimes of Rādhā-Govinda.
Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa has created a “zoom lens effect” by expertly connecting related verses from
various śāstras to describe Kṛṣṇa’s sweet pastimes. Each successive verse brings the reader closer
and closer to the extraordinary actions and feelings expressed within a given transcendental pastime
of the Divine Couple.
By the divine order of Śrīmatī Rādhikā, Śrī Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa compiled Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgraha by
collecting 3,091 verses from the following thirty śāstras: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Gopāla-campū,
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, Ujjvala-nīlamaṇi, Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta, Ananda-
vṛndāvana-campū, Rādhā-rasa-sudhā-nidhi, Vidagdha-mādhava, Lalitā-mādhava, Vilāpa-
kusumāñjali, Krama-dīpīkā, Padyāvalī, Saṅgīta-mādhava, Stava-mālā, Caitanya-caritāmṛta-
mahā-kāvya, Caitanya-candrodaya-nāṭaka, Govinda-līlāmṛta, Stavāvaḷī, Dāna-keli-kaumudī,
Kṛṣṇahnika-kaumudī, Gīta-govinda, Alaṅkāra-kaustubha, Jagannatha-vallabha-nāṭaka, Kṛṣṇa-
bhāvanāmṛta, Kṛṣṇa-karṇāmṛta, Vṛndāvana-śātaka, Stavāmṛta-laharī, Madhu-keli-vallī and
Govinda-rati-mañjarī.
We hope that the readers of Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgraha will immerse their hearts in remembering the
wonderful prema-līlās (pastimes of love) of Rādhā-Mādhava in Vṛndāvana. One can deeply meditate
upon a strong attachment. By regularly reading this collection (saṅgrahaḥ) of verses one will become
completely attached to Rādhā-Mādhava’s ecstatic eight-fold daily pastimes. The path of bhakti,
which is the expression of favorable feelings and service offered in love purely for the pleasure of
Rādhā-Govinda, will then be enriched with the ultimate meditations (bhāvanāsāra).
In closing, we quote from the Epilogue written by Śrī Siddha Kṛṣṇadāsa:
“Falling on the ground, I eternally offer my head at the feet of all the devotees who drink the honey
from the lotus feet of Govinda. They are free from all desires other than the pure desire to serve
Rādhā-Govinda. Their faces are happy because of contemplating the rapture of experiencing
unbounded prema. And they constantly play in the joyful ocean of Kṛṣṇa’s unlimited pastimes.”
Mahanidhi Swami
Rādhā-kuṇḍa
Vaiśākha Purnima 2006
Contents
Publications
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Biography
Introduction
Personalities in Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgrahaḥ
Chapter One: Pastimes at the end of night
(3:36 a.m.—6:00 a.m.) Niśānta-līḷā
Niśānta-līḷā (3:36 a.m.—4:24 a.m.)
The sakhīs’ morning services
The birds awaken Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa
The pleasure fatigue
Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s sweet fatigue
Niśānta-līḷā (4:24 a.m.—5:36 a.m.)
Mañjarīs’ service and Kṛṣṇa’s agitation
Female Parrots speak to Rādhā
The male parrots speak to Kṛṣṇa
The sakhīs’ joy in seeing Śrī Rādhā and the pleasure bed
Niśānta-līḷā (5:36 a.m.—6:00 a.m.)
Forgetting to go home and Kakkhaṭī’s poetry
Rādhā’s lamentation and sleeping
Chapter Two: Morning Pastimes
(6:00 a.m.—8:24 a.m.) Prātaḥ-līlā
Prātaḥ-līlā (6:00 a.m.—6:24 a.m.)
The mañjarīs’ activities and Rādhā’s abode
Performing services for Rādhā
Dawn and arrival of Mukharā
Rādhā awakens
Talks with Śyāmalā Sakhī
Madhurikā describes Kṛṣṇa’s waking and milking cows
Milking the cows
Rādhā’s condition and Śyāmalā’s departure
Rādhā brushes Her teeth
Prātaḥ-līlā (6:24 a.m.—6:48 a.m.)
Rādhā’s bath and dressing
Prātaḥ-līlā (6:48 a.m.—7:36 a.m.)
Hiraṇyāṅgī Sakhī describes Kṛṣṇa’s wrestling and bath
Kṛṣṇa’s dress and ornaments
Kundalatā takes Rādhā to Nanda’s house
Joking with the sakhīs
Tuṅgavidyā describes Nandīśvara
Seeing Kṛṣṇa at the entrance gate
Rādhā meets Yaśodā
Yaśodā’s cooking instructions
Rādhā and Rohiṇī cook
Yaśodā inspects the preparations
Prātaḥ-līlā (7:36 a.m.—8:24 a.m.)
Serving and eating
The breakfast joking
Kṛṣṇa loses His appetite on seeing Rādhā
The sakhīs eat
Chapter Three: Forenoon pastimes
(8:24 a.m.—10:48 a.m.) Pūrvāhna-līlā
Pūrvāhna-līlā (8:24 a.m.—9:12 a.m.)
Kṛṣṇa’s dressing and meeting His friends
Service items for forest play
The gopīs’ responses to Kṛṣṇa’s leaving
Yaśodā instructs Kṛṣṇa
Bidding farewell to the Vrajavāsīs
Rādhā plans to meet Kṛṣṇa
Purvāhna-līlā (9:12 a.m.—10:00 a.m.)
Description of Kṛṣṇa and His friends
The Vṛndāvana forest and the boys’ sports
The forest welcomes Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa sees Rādhā everywhere
Dhaniṣṭhā’s news and Kṛṣṇa’s water sports
Picnic and Kusuma Sarovara meeting
Tulasī brings news of Rādhā
Śaibya-sakhī deceived
Purvāḥna-līlā (10:00 a.m.—10:48 a.m.)
Rūpa-mañjarī describes Rādhā’s anguish
Rādhā goes to Rādhā-kuṇḍa
Description of Lalitānanda-kuñja
Chapter Four: Midday pastimes
(10:48 a.m.—3:36 p.m.) Madhyāhna-līlā
Madhyāhna-līlā (10:48 a.m.—11:12 a.m.)
Rādhā’s attraction to Kṛṣṇa
Power of Kṛṣṇa’s flute
Tulasī-mañjarī brings news of Kṛṣṇa
Dhaniṣṭhā describes the beauty of spring
The love journey to Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa sends Vṛṇdā to bring Rādhā
Rādhā, Vṛndā and Kundalatā’s discussion
Rādhā-Govinda’s mutual vision
Kṛṣṇa’s joy on meeting Rādhā
Madhyāhna-līlā (11:12 a. m.—11:36 a. m.)
Conversations while flower picking
Rādhā’s ownership of the forest
A clever conversation
Kṛṣṇa embraces Rādhā
Lalitā jokes with Kṛṣṇa
Madhyāhna-līlā (11:36 a.m.—12:00 p.m.)
Flute stealing pastimes
Kṛṣṇa enters Rādhā’s bower
Madhyāhna-līlā (12:00 p.m.—12:24 p.m.)
Description of Rādhā
Madhyāhna-līlā (12:24 p.m.—1:12 p.m.)
Service of the six seasons
Beauty of Vṛndāvana
Service of the creepers
Rādhā’s pretense of anger
The Spring Forest
Madhyāhna-līlā (1:12 p.m.—1:36 p.m.)
Spring festival of Holī
Summer forest pastimes
Entering the monsoon forest
Swing pastimes
The autumn forest
The winter forest
The dewy season forest
Rādhā’s transformations in prema
Pastime of drinking mādhvīka nectar
Madhyāhna-līlā (1:36 p.m.—2:00 p.m.)
Sleeping pastimes
Talks about Rādhā’s Intimacy
Madhyāhna-līlā (2:00 p.m.—2:24 p.m.)
Divine water sports in Rādhā-kuṇḍa
Dressing at the lotus pavilion
Forest lunch
Madhyāhna-līlā (2:24 p.m.—2:48 p.m.)
The parrot’s glorify Kṛṣṇa’s beautiful form
Madhyāhna-līlā (2:48 p.m.—3:12 p.m.)
Parrots describe Kṛṣṇa’s divine qualities
Madhyāhna-līlā (3:12 p.m.—3:36 p.m.)
The sakhīs praise Rādhā’s beauty
The female parrot describes the sakhīs
The gambling match
Sun god Worship
Chapter Five: Afternoon Pastimes
(3:36 p.m.—6:00 p.m.) Aparāhna-līlā
Aparāhna-līlā (3:36 p.m.—4:00 p.m.)
Candanakalā Sakhī relieves Rādhā
Aparāhna-līlā (4:00 p.m.—4:24 p.m.)
Rādhā cooks Kṛṣṇa’s favorite five sweets
Aparāhna-līlā (4:24 p.m.—4:48 p.m.)
Rādhā praises Kṛṣṇa’s flute
Aparāhna-līlā (4:48 p.m.—6:00 p.m.)
The sakhīs receive the returning Kṛṣṇa
The meeting of Rādhā-Mādhava
Chapter Six: Dusk Pastimes
(6:00 p.m.—8:24 p.m.) Sāyāhna-līlā
Sāyāhna-līlā (6:00 p.m.—6:24 p.m.)
The attractive features of Kṛṣṇa
Tulasī relieves Rādhikā
Yaśodā’s affection for Kṛṣṇa
Sāyāhna-līlā (6:24 p.m.—6:48 p.m.)
Kṛṣṇa’s bath
Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma’s meal
Sāyāhna-līlā (6:48 p.m.—8:24 p.m.)
Kṛṣṇa milks the cows
Chapter Seven: Evening pastimes
(8:24 p.m.—10:48 p.m.) Pradośa-līlā
Pradośa-līlā (8:24 p.m.—8:48 p.m.)
Induprabhā Sakhī brings Rādhā news of Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa’s sleeping chamber
Kṛṣṇa describes Rādhā’s beauty
Subala describes Rādhā’s separation
Nanda entertains Kṛṣṇa
Pradośa-līlā (8:48 p.m.—10:00 p.m.)
Kṛṣṇa goes to His bedroom
Rādhā’s evening meal
Pradośa-līlā (10:00 p.m.—10:24 p.m.)
Kṛṣṇa goes to meet Rādhā
Rādhā describes Kṛṣṇa’s beauty
Lalitā comforts Rādhā and their departure
Description of Govinda-sthala
Pradośa-līlā (10:24 p.m.—10:48 p.m.)
Meeting Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa searches for Rādhā
Chapter Eight: Midnight Pastimes
(10:48 p.m.—3:36 a.m.) Niśa-līlā
Niśa-līlā (10:48 p.m.—11:12 p.m.)
Vṛndā serves Rādhā-Mādhava
Pastimes in the forest
Glory of the forest
Niśa-līlā (11:12 p.m.—1:12 a.m.)
The rāsa dance begins
Rāsa-līlā
Niśa-līlā (1:12 a.m.—1:36 a.m.)
Rest and more dancing
Niśa-līlā (1:36 a.m.—2:00 a.m.)
Drinking party
Rādhā-Mādhava’s intimate pastimes
Pastimes with other gopīs
Niśa-līlā (2:00 a.m.—2:24 a.m.)
Water pastimes
Niśa-līlā (2:24 a.m.—2:48 a.m.)
Dressing, eating and resting
Niśa-līlā (2:48 a.m.—3:12 a.m.)
The mañjarīs serve Rādhā-Mādhava
Niśa-līlā (3:12 a.m.—3:36 a.m.)
Rādhā-Mādhava’s confidential pastimes
Mādhava enjoys the other gopīs
Epilogue
Other books by Author
Personalities in Bhāvanāsāra Saṅgrahaḥ
Śrī Kṛṣṇa—the all-attractive Supreme Person and object of everyone’s love. Also known as Govinda,
Dāmodara, Mādhava, Nandanandana, Mukunda, Gopīnātha, Priyatama, Vatsa, Rādhā-raman, Śyāma,
Vraja-mohana, Śyāmasundara, Hari, Keśava, Viśvaśarma
Balarāma—Kṛṣṇa’s elder brother and companion, who always serves and protects Kṛṣṇa. Also
known as Baladeva, Balabhadra, Haladhāra and Rāma
Śrī Rādhā—Kṛṣṇa’s most beloved sweetheart personifying His own internal pleasure-potency. Also
known as Rādhikā, Kiśorī, Rādhārāṇī, Priyaji, Śrīmatī, Vṛṣabhānunandinī, Gāndharvikā
Divine Couple—Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa, Rādhā-Mādhava, Rādhā-Govinda, Rādhā-Śyāma
Rādhā’s 8 Main Girlfriends—Lalitā, Viśākhā, Citrā, Campākalatā, Indulekhā, Tuṅgavidyā,
Raṅgadevī, Sudevī
Vṛndā-devī—the organizer of Rādhā-Mādhava’s divine pastimes; the embodiment of Kṛṣṇa’s līlā-
śakti, pastime potency. Also known as Vṛndā
Malatī—Vṛndā’s chief maidservant and messenger
Sakhīs bringing news to Rādhā—Śyāmalā, Kalāvati, Hiryāṅgī, Candanakalā, Induprabhā, Madhurikā
Rūpa-mañjarī—Rādhā’s closest maidservant, the personal attendant of Lalitā Sakhī
Ratī-mañjarī—Rādhā’s next dearest maidservant, who serves closely with Rūpa-mañjarī. Often
called Tulasī, Tulasī-mañjarī or Bhanumati. She is Viśākhā Sakhi’s personal attendant.
Candrāvalī—Rādhā’s cousin-sister and rival who always competes for Kṛṣṇa’s love
Padmā, Śaibyā etc.—chief confidants of Candrāvalī and the “anti-party”
Kundalatā— Kṛṣṇa’s girl-cousin; a very clever speaking sakhī, who assists in many of Rādhā-
Mādhava’s confidential pastimes. Also called Kundavallī
Paurnamāsī—the personification of Kṛṣṇa’s internal potency, who always acts to unite the Divine
Couple and provide tasty mellows of loving exchange. Also known as Bhāgavatī
Dhaniṣṭhā—an elder sakhī who resides at Nandagrām to promote Rādhā-Mādhava’s
confidential pastimes. She also brings prasāda and gifts to Rādhā or Kṛṣṇa.
Nandīmukhī—an elder sakhī, the brāhmaṇī sister of Madhumaṅgala, who tells jokes and helps
Rādhā-Mādhava’s pastimes flow smoothly
Nanda Mahārāja & Yaśodā—Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s eternal father and mother, who reside in Nandagrāma
forever smothering Kṛṣṇa with parental affection
Rohiṇī—Balarāma’s mother, an expert cook assisting Yaśodā in nourishing Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes in
Nandagrāma
Ambika & Kilimba—leading nursemaids helping Yaśodā serve Kṛṣṇa in Nandagrāma
Mukhara—Rādhā’s partially blind grandmother, who assists in the pastimes
Jaṭilā—the senile, crooked and ever-suspicious mother-in-law of Rādhā; the mother of Rādhā’s so-
called husband Abhimanyu. She always tries and fails to foil Rādhā’s love sports with Śyāma.
Madhumaṅgala—Kṛṣṇa’s best brāhmaṇa friend, joker and sidekick who lives with the Lord in
Nandagrām. He provides silly antics and rude wisecracks whenever needed. Also known as Baṭu or
Kusumasava.
Śrīdāma, Subala, etc.—Kṛṣṇa’s other confidential cowherd boyfriends
Chapter One: Pastimes at the end of night
(3:36 a.m.—6:00 a.m.) Niśānta-līḷā
I was born in the darkest ignorance and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torchlight of
knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.
His powerful shoulders resemble a lion, an enchanting smile adorns His beautiful cheeks and moment
to moment His divine body transforms in ecstasy due to madhura-rasa. His beautiful complexion is
more dazzling than a golden lotus. May that Lord Gaurāṅga, the unified form of Rādhā-Mādhava,
protect you. Caitanya-candrāmṛta 13
May the lotus feet of Pūtanāri always protect us. Kṛṣṇa’s delicate toes resemble the petals of a pink
lotus and His slender ankles resemble the stalks of a lotus. Śyāma’s lotus feet hold the honey of His
devotee’s faith. The streams of light emanating from Kṛṣṇa’s toenails resemble the stamens of a lotus.
The kuṅkuma powder from the budding breasts of Rādhikā, which clings to lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa,
resembles the pollen of those lotuses. Ānanda-vṛndāvana Campu 1.2
I offer my respects to the devotees of Lord Gaurāṅga, who are like dolphins frolicking in the sweet
ocean of bhakti-rasa. Free from the fear of death, they care nothing for the insignificant rivers of
liberation. Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.1.4
At the end of night, Lord Gaurāṅga lay sleeping in the kuñja of Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura. His blissful repose
was interrupted by the pleasant sound of cuckoos and humming bees. His hair stood on end and His
body became soaked in tears as Gaura remembered Rādhā lying beside Kṛṣṇa in the nikuñja-
mandira. O mind, please worship the golden Lord Gaurāṅga.
Mūla-sūtra: Vṛndā-devi, feeling apprehensive over the impending sunrise, ordered a variety of birds
to chirp loudly. The Divine Couple slowly rose from Their pleasure bed being induced by the
pleasant and unpleasant poetry of the male and female parrots. The sakhīs and mañjarīs, laughing and
giggling, entered the sleeping chamber. Everyone felt so blissful being together that they forgot about
going home. Vṛndā-devi gave a signal to Kakkhati, an old female monkey, who shrieked, “Jatila is
coming!” Rādhā-Mādhava were still quite thirsty for love’s delights, but They became afraid upon
hearing the name of Jaṭilā. Gazing deeply at each other with eyes of longing, Rādhā-Mādhava
reluctantly separated and quickly returned to Their homes to take rest. Govinda-līlāmṛta 1.10
Gāndharvikā-Giridhārī ki jai!
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