Sri Sri Camatkara Candrika (1)

Meeting in the Box

matah pratah kim iha kurushe nahyate petikeyam
yatnad asyam kim iha nihitam kim tavanena suno!
jnatavyena pranayi-sakhibhih khela gehad bahis tvam
jijnasa me bhavati mahiti bruhi no cen na yami

Early one morning, Sri Yasoda, the queen of Vraja, was busy arranging clothes and various ornaments in a box. At that time, Sri Krishna came and asked her, “Mother, what are you doing so early in the morning?”

“My dear son,” replied Yasoda, “I am packing a box.”

“And what is it that you are so carefully putting in this box?” He asked.

“You don’t need to know that,” she told Him. “Go outside and play with Your dear friends.”

“But mother,” Sri Krishna insisted, “I really want to know. Please tell Me! I will not go out until you do so.”

asyam candana-candra-pankaja-rajah-kasturika-kunkumadyanganam
anulepanartham atha tan nepathya-hetos tatha
kanci-kundala-kankanady-anupamam vaiduryya-muktaharidratnady-
ambara-jatam apy atimahan arghyam kramad varttate

“My dear son,” explained Yasoda, “in this box I am placing sandal wood, camphor, lotus-pollen, musk and kumkuma to apply to the limbs. I am also packing ornate belts, earrings, bracelets and unparalleled jeweled ornaments of lazuli, pearls, emeralds and other precious gems; and fine, valuable garments.”

atredam nidadhasi k im mama krite ramasya va nandana!
brumas tvam avadhehi ya tu bhavatoh hetuh krita petika
sa ’nya ’to ’pi brihaty anarghya-mani-bhag evam balasyapara
tat kasmimscana te janany urur iyan sneho yato yasyati

“Mother, is everything in this box for Me,” asked Sri Krishna, “or is it for My brother Balarama?”

“Listen, my son, and I will tell You. There is another box of even more exquisite garments and precious ornaments for You. That box is much bigger than this one, and I have prepared a similar box for Balarama as well.”

“But Mother, if you are not preparing this box for My elder brother or for Me, who is it for? Who else is the object of your love and affection?”

asmat-punya-tapah phalena vidhina datto ’si mahyam yatha
mat-pranavana-hetave vraja-puralankara suno tatha
kanya kacid ihasti man-nayanayoh karpura-varttih para
tasya ambara-mandanadi-dhritaye seyam krita petika

“O son, O ornament of Vraja!” said Sri Yasoda, “You are the protector of our lives. Providence has kindly bestowed You upon us as the result of some virtue of ours, or some austerities that we have performed. In the same way, here in Gokula lives a young girl who is our very life. She is like an incomparable camphor ointment
that soothes our distressed and burning eyes. It is for Her that I am preparing this box by filling it with clothing and ornaments.”

ka ’sau kasya kutastaram janani! va tasyam atisnihyasi
kva ’ste tad vada sarvam eva srinu bho ya me sakhi kirttida
tasyah kukshi-khaner anarghyam atulam manikyam etat svabhavicibhir
vrishabhanum ujjvalayate murttam tadiyam tapah

“Mother, who is this young girl? Whose daughter is She? Where does She live? Why are you showering so much love and affection upon Her? Please tell Me everything!”

 “Listen, my son, I have a friend named Kirtida, and it was from her womb that this priceless and unequalled jewel of young girls manifested. This young girl’s father is Vrishabhanu Maharaja, the King of the cowherds, and She is truly the personified result of the austerities he has performed. Her effulgence illuminates even the sun [bhanu] in the hottest summer month of Jeshtha [which according to the Vedic calendar comes in the astrological sign of Taurus, or the bull (vrisha)]. This girl thus manifests Her father’s fame everywhere.

saundaryani susilata guru-kule bhaktis trapa-salita
saralyam vinayitvam ity adhidharam ye brahma-srishta gunah
te yatraiva mahatvam apur atha me snehas tu naisargikah
sa radhety atha gatram utpulakitam krishno ’msukenapy adhat

“Dear child, Lord Brahma has created numerous elevated feminine qualities in this world, including extreme beauty, sweetness in nature, devotion to elders, shyness, simplicity and humility. Usually, a person becomes great upon attaining such noble qualities; but these qualities have themselves attained greatness by taking shelter of this young girl. This is the amazing truth, and it is why I have a natural affection for Her. Her name is Radha.” When Sri Yasoda glorified Sri Radha’s qualities and then spoke Her name, Sri Krishna’s immeasurable delight caused the hairs of His body to stand on end, but He managed to conceal these symptoms of
ecstasy with His cloth.

sa patyuh sadane ’sti samprati patis casya ihaivagato
goshthendrena samam svagaihika-kriti-vyasanga-hetor bahih
aste samsadi yarhi vikshitum ayam mam eshyati pritito
vakshyamy enam imam vahan nija-griham tam prapayan yasyati

Sri Yasoda continued: “This young bride is married to Abhimanyu. At the moment She is in Her husband’s house, but Abhimanyu himself is here. He is just outside in the assembly hall, seeking advice about household affairs from Sri Nandaraya, the King of the pasturing lands. When he enters the inner chambers to greet me, I
will say affectionately, ‘Abhimanyu, take this box home and present it to Radha.’”

atrantare nikatam agataya lavangavallya
drutam nija-gade srinu goshtha-rajni!
ahuta-purvam iha yat tad idam suvarnakara-
dvayam kalaya rangana-tanganakhyam

At that moment, the maidservant Lavangalata hurriedly entered
and announced to Vrajesvari Sri Yasoda: “O Queen of the pasture
lands, the two goldsmiths you summoned, Rangana and Tangana,
have arrived.”

srutvaitad a ’tta mrid uvaca tato vrajesa
krishnasya kundala-kirita-padangadadi
nirmapayanty acirato bahiremi yavat
tva petikam naya grihantarito dhanishthe

Sri Vrajesvari was happy to hear this and told Dhanishtha, “I am going outside to arrange for earrings, crowns, bracelets and other ornaments to be made for Krishna. I will not be long. You must keep a close watch over this box until I return.”

ity uktvasyam gatayam subala-mukha-suhrit-svagateshv atta-modas
taih sakam mantrayitva kim api rahasi tam petikam udghataya
nishkasyatah samastam mani-vasana-kulady-arpayitva dhanishthapanau
tasyam pravisya svayam atha sakhibhir mudrayam asa tam sah

After Vrajesvari Sri Yasoda had gone to talk to the goldsmiths, Subala and some of Sri Krishna’s other nearest and dearest cowherd boy friends came in. Sri Krishna was overjoyed to see them. After some discussion, He and His friends took the box to a lonely place. There they opened it, took out the jewels, decorations and clothes, and handed them all to Dhanishtha. Then Sri Krishna Himself climbed into the box and, with the help of His friends, closed the lid.

dvi-tri-kshanoparamatah pranamantam etya
tatrabhimanyum abhivikshya puro yasoda
prishtva samaha srinu bho bhavato grihinya
hetoh kritadya mani-mandana petikeyam

Before long, Sri Vrajesvari returned, and Abhimanyu came in and offered his respects to her. She asked about his health and well-being, and then said, “Abhimanyu, I have prepared this box, full of jeweled ornaments, for your wife.

asyam anarghya-mani-kancana-dama-vasah
kasturikady-atimanoharam asti vastu
nanyatra visvasimi tena vahams tvam eva
gatva griham nibhritam arpaya radhikayai

“This box is full of many enchanting articles, such as valuable jewels, golden necklaces, lovely clothes and musk. You must take it home, and personally present it to Sri Radhika in a private place. I do not trust anyone to do this except you.

sandeshtavyam idam mad-akshi-sukhade sri-kirttida-kirttide
radhe preshita-petikantara-gatenatyujjvalam jyotisha
tvad-gatrocita-mandanena nitaram tvad-vallabhena sphutam
tvam sringaravati sada bhava ciranjiveti saubhagyatah

“You should also give Her this message from me: ‘O Madakshisukhada (You who give happiness to my eyes), O Kirtida-kirtida (You who magnify the fame of Your mother Kirtida)! O Radha, I am sending You this most effulgent box, which contains ornamentation [Sri Syamasundara] that is very dear to You. This ornamentation is
befitting Your body. May You always be thus decorated1 [in other words, immersed in ujjvala-rasa]. May You attain great fortune and live forever.’ (The word used here is “sringaravati ”, which can mean both “being decorated” and “engaged in amorous love”).

srutvaitat tvaritam vrajesv ari! yathaivajna taveti bruvan
dhritva murdhani petikam sva-bhavanam pritya ’bhimanyur yada
gantum prakramate sma tarhy abhisaran krishnas tam aruhya tadbharyam
hanta! nija-priyam smitam adhat svam kautukabdhau kiran

“O Queen of Vraja, I will carry out your order implicitly,” replied Abhimanyu. He immediately lifted the box on to his head, and full of bliss, set off for home. Mounted upon Abhimanyu’s head, Sri Krishna drowned in an ocean of mischievous playfulness. He laughed softly and sweetly to Himself as He was carried off to meet His beloved Sri Radhika – Abhimanyu’s own wife.

gopah so ’pi muda hridaha tad aham dhanyah kritartho ’smi yan
manjushantar ihasti kancana-mani-rasir mahadurlabhah
bharad eva mayanumiyata itah krinami kotir gavam
yad govardhana-mallavan mama grihe lakshmir bhavitri para

The gopa Abhimanyu thought, “Today I am blessed and successful! From the weight of this box, I can tell it must be filled with extremely rare jewels. I will use them to buy thousands of cows, and then I will become as wealthy as Govardhana Malla. Our home will become the very residence of Lakshmi, the supreme Goddess of Fortune herself.”

goshthadhisa-purad vrajan sva-nilayabhyasavadhi-sthanam
apy arohat pulakollasat-tanur atipriti-plutakshi-dvayah
tadrig bhara-sira api kshanam api glanim sa naivanvabhut
purnananda-ghanam vahan katham aho janatu vartma-sramam

Thinking in this way, Abhimanyu started his journey from Nandagrama, the abode of Sri Nanda Maharaja, the King of the pasturing grounds. He walked home in total ecstasy. His whole body was filled with happiness, and tears flowed from his eyes due to great bliss. Although he was carrying such a heavy load upon his head, he felt no more fatigue than if he had lifted it for only an instant. Who for a moment would feel the burden of carrying an object that is brimming with such entire delight?

gatva puram sva-jananim jatilam uvaca
matah! subha-kshanata eva grihad agaccham
pasyadya kancana-mani-vasanadi-purna
labdha ’tibhagya-bharatah kila petikeyam

As soon as Abhimanyu arrived home, he told his mother, Jatila, “Mother, today I must have left home at an auspicious moment. Just see! By some good fortune I have received this box of gold, jewels and other valuables”.

datva svayam vrajapayaiva tava snushayai
sringara-hetava ihapratima-prasadam
kurvanaya sapadi tam pratipadyam ekam
proce ca tat kalaya sapi srinotv adure

“Out of her incomparable kindness, Sri Vrajesvari herself has sent this gift, solely to decorate your daughter-in-law. She also composed a verse and told me, ‘Please listen to this verse, and then recite it to Sri Radha.

sandeshtavyam idam mad-akshi-sukhade sri-kirttida-kirttide
radhe preshita-petikantara-gatenatyujjvala-jyotisha
tvad-gatrocita-mandanena nitaram tvad-vallabhena sphutam
tvam sringaravati sada bhava ciranjiveti saubhagyatah

“‘O You who give pleasure to my eyes! O You who increase the fame of Your mother Kirtida! O Radha, I have sent You this box with this most brilliantly radiant ornament. You will cherish this ornament which will be suitable for Your body. May it perpetually decorate You. May You attain great fortune and live forever.’”

hridaha tushta jatilatibhadram
abhud idam sampratam eva dishtya
vadhur bhavishyaty ati-suprasanna
putre ’tra me labdha nijopakara

Hearing these blessings, Jatila became most pleased and thought, “By good fortune, we have attained great auspiciousness today. Our daughter-in-law will be e exceedingly delighted with Abhimanyu when She receives this gift.”

smitva ’tha sa spashtam uvaca suno!
snusha tathaham bhavatah svasa va
na parayishyaty atibharam etad
itah samutthapayitum kadapi

Jatila smiled somewhat, and said aloud, “O son, neither your wife, nor your sister, nor I myself can lift this heavy box”.

manjushikam tattvam ito grihitva
sayya-grihantar-vrishabhanu-putryah
vedyam nidhayaihi yathodghataya
semam priyam mandanam asu pasyet

“You will have to take it to Vrishabhanu-kumari’s bedroom yourself. She can then open it straight away and behold these most dear ornaments and decorations.”

atrantare sahacarishv atiharshinishu
radha rahasya-mala-dhir lalitam uvaca
adyali! vama-kuca-dor-nayanoru-caru
kim spandate mama vadety atha sa jagada

manye manoharam ihasti manindra-bhushajatam
svayam vraja-paya hy ata eva dattam
tat-prapti-rupa-subha-sucaka eva radhe!
spando ’tisaubhaga-bharavadhi-hetur eshah

Abhimanyu delivered the box to Sri Radha’s bedroom and then left. Sri Radha’s girlfriends began to feel incomparable joy. Sri Radha, the embodiment of purity and intelligence, inquired in confidence from Lalita, “My friend, why is it that today My left breast, left arm, left eye and left thigh are all trembling in delight? Considering the time and place, such auspicious signs would seem unlikely. Please explain this to Me!”

Lalita answered, “Sri Radha! It seems to me that an ornament made of the most precious jewels [in other words, Sri Krishna, who dresses in ornaments made of jewels] is in this box, which after all, was sent by Sri Vrajesvari herself. My dear friend, Your left side and all Your limbs tremble as an auspicious sign that You will attain this ornament, the ultimate limit of all good fortune.”

drishtvaiva man-manasi kancana bhavam esha
manjushikaiva lalite! vitanoti badham
udghatayami tad imam adhunaiva vikshe
saubhagya-dam kim iha bhushana-ratnam asti

Sri Radha replied, “Oh, Lalita, merely by My seeing this box, an indescribably mischievous playfulness is welling up and overflowing within Me. Open it quickly, and let us see the treasure of jeweled ornaments inside.”

ittham sakhishu sakalasu tadotsukasu
tam petikam abhita eva samasitasu
drashtum gatasu nibidatvam atha svayam sa
damany udasya rabhasad udaghatayat tam

Eager to see the secret contents of the box, Sri Radha’s sakhis gathered around it. Sri Radha removed all Her ornaments, and then quickly opened the box.

yavat kim etad iti ta ahaheti hocur
yavad bhrisam jahasur eva sva-hasta-talam
yavat trapa sahacari pratibodham apa
yavat pramoda-lahari-satam ullalasa

yavan niravaranam angam ananga-nakro
jagrasa yavad atisambhramam apa pushtim
tat-purvam eva sahasa tatah utthitah sa
sarvah kala-nidhir aho yugapac cucumba

As soon as Sri Radha opened the lid, Her friends began to laugh loudly and clap their hands. “Aaah! What is this?” they cried. At that same moment, Sri Radhika’s companion known as shyness awoke and hundreds of waves of bliss rippled over Her limbs. The crocodile-like Cupid seized Radhika’s unornamented body, and She became perplexed due to embarrassment. Astonishingly, just before this, He who is the abode of all arts, Kalanidhi Sri Krishna, had suddenly sprung out of the box and then simultaneously kissed the face of each and every young girl.

dhanyam bhushana-vastu te griha-patir dhanyo yadanitavan
dhanya goshtha-mahesvari sakhi! yaya snehad idam preshitam
tvam sringaravati bhaveti ca puna dhanyaiva sandesa-vag
dhanyam geham idam yad etya nibhritam manjushika khelati

Lalita said to Sri Radha, “Sakhi, this ‘decoration and clothing’ is most glorious! Your husband, who delivered it, is glorious! The house into which this box has come to perform pastimes is glorious! Goshtha-mahesvari Sri Yasoda, who sent it with so much love and affection, is glorious! And her message: ‘O Radha, may You always be adorned with this decoration sent by me,’ is also glorious!”

goshthesa nididesa te bahutara-snehat tatas te patih
svasrur ali tad anvativa rabhasad datvaiva manjushikam
tvam sringaravati bhavet ayi guru-trayya vacah-palanam
gandharvve! kuru sarvatheti lalita-vanyatha sa tatrape

Lalita continued, “Oh, sakhi, Goshthesvari Sri Yasoda affectionately told You, ‘May You be beautifully adorned with this gift.’ Moreover, Your husband and mother-in-law have also approved of it. Gandharvika, You should therefore act in full obedience to the order of these three superiors.” When Sri Radha heard Lalita’s words, shyness overwhelmed Her.

manjushikantar iha me bahu-ratna-bhusha
asan svayam vraja-paya sakhi! ya vitirnah
samrakshya tah kvacana dhurtta iha pravishtas
caura ’yam asti tad idam vada bho mad-aryam

Sri Radha replied, “My friend, Sri Vrajesvari must certainly have put a collection of jeweled ornaments for Me in this box. But a cunning thief has stolen them and hidden them somewhere, and then He has crawled into the box Himself! Quickly go and tell My mother-in-law what has happened!”

radhabhisarinn abhimanyu-vahana!
kshitim sati-sunyatamam cikirsho!
prayaccha ratnabharanani sighram
no ced iharyam aham anayami

Lalita said to Sri Krishna, “O You, who desire to meet Sri Radha! O You who used Abhimanyu as Your carrier! By riding on Abhimanyu’s head with the desire to meet his own wife, Radha, You have revealed Your eagerness to rid the earth of all chaste women. Give back all the jeweled ornaments quickly, otherwise I will call the noble Jatila!”

dhurtta sakhi te lalite! svakritye
dakshavahittham adhuna lalambe
mam anayat preshya patim balad ya
manjushikantah kutukad vasantam

“Listen, Lalita,” replied Sri Krishna, “this friend of yours, Sri Radha, is cunning and skilled in getting Her own way. I got into this box merely out of curiosity, and then She sent Her husband to bring Me here by force. Now She is concealing this truth from all of you.”

manjushayah saurabham viksha tasya
vastudasya prapayams tam dhanishtham
tatra pritya pravisam svam sugandhikarttum
daivad anayan mam patis te

Sri Krishna then turned to Sri Radhika and said, “Oh, Radha, I removed everything from the box and gave it to Dhanishtha so that she could affectionately send it to You. Then I climbed into the box only to savor its fragrance and to make My own body just as aromatic. Just at that moment, Your husband came unexpectedly and brought the box here with Me inside!”

nyayam sak h yo nau kurudhvam yad asya
doshah syac ced astu dandya mameyam
no ced yushmad-dor-bhujangogra-pasair
baddhah sthasyamy atratamams tri-ratram

Then Krishna said to the young girls, “Sakhis, please judge this case and give your verdict. If Sri Radhika is at fault, I will punish Her. However, if it is I who am at fault, then I will spend three distressing nights here, bound in the fierce noose of your snake-like arms.”

yasyaivam vibhavena tan-nava-yuva-dvandvam sphurad yauvanam
sakhyaly-akshi-cakorikah sara-tatim kamorasah svadanam
dhyanam bhakta-tatih sada kavi-kulam sviya vicitra girah
kirttim kshma bhuvaneshu sadhu saphali-cakre numas tat-param

We offer our obeisances to that eternally youthful couple of Vraja, Sri Radha-Krishna, who are constantly absorbed in playful pastimes. Through Their majestic influence, the sakhis have completely fulfilled the desire of their cakora bird-like eyes; Cupid has made his arrows fully successful; the devotees have made their meditation completely fruitful; rasa has made enjoyment complete; the poets have made their amazing verses successful; and the fame and glory of this earthly Vrindavana has been broadcast throughout the fourteen
worlds.

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!

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