Meanwhile, Lalitā and the other sakhīs were bathed and decorated by their respective maidservants. When the sakhīs arrived from their homes, the kiṅkarīs bowed to them and then everyone entered Śrī Rādhā’s bedroom, delighting in her beauty as she slept. Śrīmatī Rādhikā was sleeping on a bed as soft and white as the foam on milk and held by a golden frame studded with eight kinds of gems. The bed was decorated with colorful pillows, armrests and so on. Above the bed hangs a canopy with jeweled fringes; beautiful jeweled lamps in the shape of campaka buds sit on all sides. Gem-studded golden tables sitting on four sides bear golden pitchers of scented drinking water; containers of tāmbūla, camphor, sandalwood, saffron and musk; cāmaras, fans and spittoons. Seeing such beauty, one sakhī said to the others, “Look friends! Śrī Rādhā’s bed is like an ocean of milk in which Śrīmatī shines like a golden swan.” Someone else said, “Friends! The swan of Śrī Rādhā’s mind swims in the milk ocean of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s līlā.” Speaking like this, the sakhīs floated in ānanda-rasa. Meanwhile, Mukharā arrived and called out Śrī Rādhā’s name to waken her. “O Rādhā, O daughter! Where are you?” Saying this repeatedly, she walked through Śrīmatī’s bedroom door. “O daughter! Morning has come and everyone is awake. Did you forget that today is Sunday? Get up quickly and bathe; then worship the sun god to fulfill your desires.” Saying this, she entered the bedroom. Awakened by Mukharā’s words, Viśākhā rose and said to sleepy Rādhā, “Friend! Get up! Get up quickly!” Although roused by the words of Mukharā and Viśākhā, Śrīmatī was tired from making love so she fell asleep again like a golden swan bobbing on a lake full of waves. Then, aware of the time, Rati Mañjarī woke her and she rose from her exquisite bed. Suddenly, Mukharā saw the yellow cloth on Śrī Rādhā’s body and became suspicious, saying, “Alas, what a calamity! What a disaster! O Viśākhā! Yesterday evening I saw that yellow cloth on Kṛṣṇa’s body and now I see it on your sakhī. What kind of behavior is this for one born in a pure family!” Startled by Mukharā’s words, Viśākhā took a quick glance and saw the yellow cloth on Śrīmatī’s chest. Though fearful, she remained calm and immediately said to Mukharā, “O silly one! O blind one! The crimson beams of the morning sun are entering the house through a window and causing my golden friend’s blue cloth to appear as yellow. Therefore, don’t unnecessarily defame my sakhī, who is the crest-jewel of chaste girls.” While Mukharā was considering Viśākhā’s words, one of the kiṅkarīs removed the yellow cloth from Śrīmatī’s body and replaced it with a blue one in the blink of an eye. When Mukharā saw the blue cloth on Śrī Rādhā, she felt ashamed and left.
Then, Lalitā and the other sakhīs entered the room and sat around Śrī Rādhā like evening stars around the moon. Waves of wonderful laughter rose with their arrival. Śrī Rādhā knew they had seen the love-marks on her body and were laughing at her. Smiling gently, she said, “Friends! I just had an amazing dream. A dark young man adorned with a flute, yellow cloth and peacock feathers suddenly grabbed Lalitā, hugged and kissed her and then went away.” Hearing this, Lalitā replied, “My dear friend Rādhā! Why are you laying your own story on someone else? We have clearly seen the love-marks on your breasts and mouth.” Then another sakhī said, “Friends! You should not doubt Śrīmatī like this. In the forest yesterday, one audacious parrot wounded her, mistaking her breasts to be pomegranates and her lips bimba fruits.” Hearing this, Śrī Rādhā replied, “If that is so, then who made the marks on all of you?” When the sakhīs heard this, they blushed and began to laugh. Meanwhile, Śyāmalā Sakhī arrived there, eager to hear Śrī Rādhā’s love stories. Delighted, Śrīmatī embraced Śyāmalā and gave her a seat nearby. It seemed as though Śyāmalā had been spontaneously encompassed by Śrī Rādhā’s halo.
No comments:
Post a Comment