Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Indulekha’s Kunja

sphaTikair indu-kAntaiz ca cita-kuTTima-catvaraH |
citritaH puNDarIkaiz ca kairavair mallikAdibhiH ||
zubhra-puSpa-dalair vRkSair vallIbhiz ca samanvitaH |
zubhrAli-pika-kIrAdyaiH zabda-jJeyair ninAditaH ||
zubhra-vezau tu rAkAyAM rAdhA-kRSNau sahAlIbhiH |
krIDantAv api nekSyete kaizcid yatrAgatair api ||
pUrNendu-nAmA kuJjo’yam indulekhA-sukha-pradaH |
suzubhra-keli-talpAdir AgneyAM dizi rAjate ||


“On the southeastern side lies a bower known as Purnendu Kunja, which gives great joy to Sri Indulekha. The terraces and courtyards there are inlaid with crystals and moonstones, and growing everywhere are two kinds of white lotuses, jasmines and white-leaved trees and creepers. The kunja resonates with the sounds of white bees, white cuckoos and white parrots who can only be differentiated by the songs that they sing, and a beautiful white bed stands ready for Radha-Krishna’s romantic pastimes. When, on the full-moon night, the divine couple sports here with their sakhis, they are dressed completely in white so if some outsider should happen to come by, they will not be seen.” (Govinda-LIlAmRtam 7.81-84)

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