kiyad dUraM tato gatvA nivRtyodvartmanA hariH |
rAdhA-kuNDaM samAyAtaH priyA-saGgotsukaH priyam ||
“After walking a short distance, Sri Krishna turned back. Eager to meet with Sri Radha, he arrived at his beloved Radha-Kunda by way of a little-known path.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.1)
tan-madhye nava-maJju-kuJja-valayaM zobhA-vibhUtyAsamA-
nordhvaM divya-vicitra-ratna-latikAdy-Ananda-puSpa-zriyA |
antas talpa-varaM varopakaraNair ADhyaM samantAd dadhad-
rAdhA-mAdhava-bhukta-bhogyam akhilAnandaika-sAmrAjya-bhUH ||
“Within the area of Sri Radha-Kunda are vibrant and charming bowers filled with incomparable beauty, where the creepers and bushes are adorned with the most delightful and exhilarating multicolored flowers. Within these bowers stands an exquisite bed, richly furnished with the finest accessories, and placed all about are delicious foods for Sri Radha-Madhava to enjoy. This is the kingdom of complete, unadulterated joy.” (VRndAvana-MahimAmRtam 4.106)
madhyaitAdRza-kuJja-maNDalam aho kuNDaM mahAmohanaM
sAndrAnanda-mahArasAmRta-bharaiH svacchaiH sadA sambhRtam |
ratnair baddha-catus-taTI-vilasitaM sad-ratna-sopAnavat-
tIrthaM zrI-taTa-sat-kadambaka-tala-cchAyA-maNI-kuTTimam ||
“Oh, and also within the circle of bowers lies a most fascinating lake that is always filled with nectarous water so clear it is like condensed joy. The bathing ghatas on its four banks are inlaid with gleaming, precious gems, and beautiful kadamba trees shade the bejeweled pavement around its banks.” (VRndAvana-MahimAmRtam 4.107)
gAdhAgAdhatayA tayor atimudaM kurvat parapreSThayor
nAnA-divya-rasottamAn avasare vyaJjat tayoH prItaye |
AzcaryaM kamalotpalAdi-kutukAyonmIlayan mIlayan
nAnA-ratnamaya-cchaTAmbudhi-jalam vyaJjan nikuJjAdikam ||
“For the pleasure of the Supreme Lovers, the water is deep in some areas and shallow in others. Here and there, in appropriate places, various kinds of delicious fruit-juice drinks have been provided for their enjoyment. For their amusement, there are wonderful red and blue lotuses that open and close, and the colors of the surrounding bowers and so forth reflect like glimmering jewels in the waters of the lake.” (VRndAvana-MahimAmRtam 4.108)
kahlArotpala-padma-kairava-mukhAsaMkhya-prasUnaiH sphuTair
haMsaiH sArasa-cakravAka-mithunaiH kAraNDavAdyaiH khagaiH |
atyAnanda-madoru-khelana-kala-dhvAnair mahAramyayA
bhRGgI-yUtha-zatair bhramadbhir abhito guJjadbhir AmaJjulaH ||
“The entire bower is very pleasant, with white water-lilies, blue, pink and white lotuses and countless other blossoming flowers. Swans, cranes, geese, ducks and other birds sing sweet, joyful songs as they sport with their mates, while bands of buzzing bumblebees fly all about.” (VRndAvana-MahimAmRtam 3.103)
tIrthopari-sthita-dvi-dvi-taru-zAkhAvalambanaiH |
yutaM nAnA-puSpa-vAsAz-citrair dolA-catuSTayaiH ||
“On the banks of this holy place are four swings hung from the branches of pairs of trees and decorated with a variety of colorful flowers and cloths.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.4)
yAmye campakayoH pUrve nIpayor AmrayoH pare |
saumye bakulayor baddha-ratna-hindolikAnvitam ||
“A jewel-studded swing hangs from two campaka trees in the southern part; another hangs from the branches of two kadamba trees in the east, another from two mango trees in the west and another from two bakula trees in the north.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.5)
pUrvAgneya-dizor madhye priya-kuNDena saGgatam |
tatrordhve stambhakAlambi-citra-setu-samanvitam ||
“At its east-southeast section, Radha-Kunda joins with Syama-Kunda, where a brightly colored bridge is suspended from pillars above the merging waters.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.6)
catuSkoNeSu vAsantI catuHzAlAbhir AvRtam |
vAnIra-kezarAzoka-nikuJjaiH parito vRtam ||
“At each of the four corners of the kunda stands an arbor covered with jasmine creepers, surrounded by bowers of cane, kesara trees and ashoka trees.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.10)
gala-hRd-udara-nAbhi-zroNi-jAnUru-daghnaiH
SaD-udadhi-vasu-koNair maNDalAGgaiz ca kaizcit |
ziziram anu samuSNair grISma-kAle suzItair
vividha-maNi-nibaddhair dikSu sopAna-yuktaiH ||
maNi-ruci-jala-vIci-bhrAnti-tRSNAbhibhUtA-
patita-vihaga-vRndAcchAlavAlAntarAlaiH |
parijana-yuta-rAdhA-kRSNayor narma-goSThI-
pramada-kRd-upavezAnalpa-vedI-suzobhaiH ||
nicita-pRthu-talAnAM kuTTimaiz citra-varNaiH
kusumita-bahu-vallI-zliSTa-zAkhA-bhujAnAm |
ghana-dala-phala-puSpa-zreNi-bhArAnatAnAM
vitatibhir abhitaH saMveSTitaM pAdapAnAm || (sandAnitakam)
“All around Sri Radha-Kunda are trees whose branches and boughs are covered with flowering creepers and bowed by the weight of dense clusters of leaves, fruits and blossoms. The ground is paved with multicolored mosaic tiles and scattered with many beautiful benches upon which Sri Radha-Krishna sit and enjoy with their dearest friends. Thirsty birds, mistaking the luster of the embedded jewels to be ripples of water, land here and there and then drink from the clear basins around the trees. On all sides of the lake are jeweled steps with tiles of six, seven or eight corners, or in circular shapes, and which reach to the height of one’s neck, chest, abdomen, hips, thighs or knees.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.7-9)
tad-bahir yat-sakhI-vRnda-bRhat-kuJjAvalair bahiH |
sat-phalaiH kadalI-SaNDair maNDitaM zItala-cchadaiH ||
“Beyond that are the vast bowers of the sakhis, and further on are groves of campaka trees and banana trees adorned with delicious fruit.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.11)
tad-bahir bAhyopavanAzliSTa-puSpATavI-vRtam |
sva-madhya-salilAdIvyat-sasetu-ratna-mandiram ||
“Outside of that lies a flower garden surrounded by another grove of trees. In the middle of the lake sits a beautiful jeweled cottage connected to the side by a bridge.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.12)
