Dancing Gopala

(From Madhurya-Tattva-Vijnana, by Sri Ananta Dasa Babaji Maharaja)

Gradually Gopala became very skillful at walking. He walked everywhere around the house, and sometimes, by doing a charming little dance before his mother, father and the other affectionate gopas and gopis, he would drown them all in Ananda-rasa. For this reason, he is known as Nritya-Gopala, or “Dancing Gopala.”

nAcata mohana nanda-dulAla |
raGgima caraNe maJjIra ghana bAjata
kiGkiNI tAhiG rasAla ||
sthala-paGkaja-dala jiniyA caraNa-tala
aruNa-kiraNa kiye AbhA |
tAhAra upare nakha-cAnda suzobhita
heraite jagamana lobhA ||
maNi-AbharaNa kata aGgahi jhalakata
nAsAya mukutA kibA dole |
mA mA mA bali cAnda vadana tuli
navIna kokila yena bole ||

“On reddish feet, with anklets and waist-bells tinkling sweetly, the darling of Nanda dances to everyone's delight. The whole world longs to see those delicate feet, more beautiful than lotus petals, lustrous like the sun, and adorned with moon-like nails. Many jewels sparkle upon his limbs, and from his nose dangles a precious pearl. Like a young cuckoo, moonfaced Krishna cries ‘MA! MA! MA!’”