03(b) Shri Chamatkaara Chandrikaa

The Meeting of Sri Krishna Disguised as a Female Doctor

kasyam sthita vishnu-bahirmukha ye
vipra bhavatyah svasuradayas tan
janami no vacaya mam taveyam
kasyam sthiter buddhir abhut kathora

“I know all about those brahmanas of Kasi, especially Your inlaw’s family. They are all against Lord Vishnu. Do not tell me anything more about them. Ever since You moved to Kasipura, Your outlook has become as harsh as theirs.”

ma kupya santim bhaja tavad arye
bhaginy aham te hanta tavasrita ’smi
yatha bravishy evam aham karomi
kintv atra sanka mama kacid asti

“Good sister, please do not be angry with Me,” pleaded Vidyavali.  “Do calm down. I am utterly dependent on you. I shall do whatever you ask Me to, but in this regard I have one great apprehension.

pure sruta kacana kim vadanti
nandasya putro ’jani ko ’pi virah
sa svaira-caryyo bata lampatatvan
na brahma-jater api bhitim eti

“In Mathura I heard a rumour that Nanda Maharaja has a mighty son, who is both self-willed and licentious, and who has no respect even for the brahmanas.

atretya narishv iva mayy api drak
sa lobha-drishti yadi vartmani syat
sadyas tadasun visrijami naiva
kula-dvayam hanta! kalankayami

“If, as I walk on the path, He suddenly looks at Me with the same lusty glance He casts upon all the women of Vraja, I will immediately give up My life. Alas, I cannot in any way disgrace My two aristocratic families.”

na tatra sanka tava kapi yasmad
aham svayam tvat-sahita prayami
ity eva gargya vacanac calanti
vidyavalir vartmani kincid uce

“My dear sister,” said Gargi, “there is no need to be afraid, for I myself will travel with You.” Vidyavali then agreed, and She and Gargi set off for Jatila’s house with the others. On the way Vidyavali said to Jatila:

mantraushadhabhyam garalasya nasas
tatrasti mantro mama kantha eva
yac caushadham tat tv ahi-valliparnam
mantram japantya rada-pishtam eva

tat te vadhuh sa mama bhakshayet kim
na vetti prishta jatila jagada
sa me snusha brahmana-jati-bhakta
tad bhakshayed eva kim atra citram

provaca gargi na kilaushadhadav
abhakshya-bhakshyasya bhaved vicarah
tatrapi bhudeva-kulasya sesham
raja ’pi bhunkte kim utanya-jatih

“Please listen to me. The snake poison is to be removed by both mantra and medication. The mantras are in My throat and the medication is the tambula that I will chew, which will become sanctified by the mantras in My throat. Good woman, will your daughter-in-law take this medication?”

“My daughter-in-law is very devoted to the brahmanas,” replied Jatila. “Of course She will eat Your chewed tambula. There is no doubt about that.”

“When it comes to medicine,” said Gargi, “there is no consideration regarding what is edible and what is inedible. Even a great emperor who rules over other powerful kings takes the remnants of the brahmanas, what to speak of those from other castes.”

pravishtavatyah sva-griham tatah sa
vidyavaleh pada-yugam sa-putra
adhavayat tat-salilam sva-vadhvas
cikshepa murddhakshi-mukhorasi drak

Vidyavali soon arrived at Jatila’s house. When She came inside, Jatila and Abhimanyu respectfully bathed Her feet. Then Jatila went to Sri Radha and sprinkled the bathing water on Her head, eyes, mouth and breast.

proce snushe! kapi mahanubhava
gargasya putryagamad atra bhagyat
sa susthayishyaty acirena vijna
mantrais tvad-angani muhuh sprisanti

kincahi-valli-dala-vitikan ca
sancarvavya dantaih pathitaih sva-mantraih
nidhasyate tan-mukha eva tatra
ghrina na karya sapatho mamatra

Jatila said to Sri Radha, “O daughter-in-law, by some great fortune, this noble soul, the daughter of Gargacarya has just arrived. She is expert in the science of removing snake poison. She will touch all of Your limbs while chanting mantras, and soon You will become healthy.

One more thing, be prepared for Her to place in Your mouth Her chewed tambula that has been sanctified by mantras. Please do not object to this.”

vidyavalis tan-nilayam pravishta
vilokya radham vasanavritangim
vadhvah padan mastakatas ca vastram
udancayadau jaratity avocat

bhujanga-m antrair abhimantrya panim
sancalayamy anghrita urddhva-gatre
yad yavad angam visham aruroha
jnatvaiva tan nirvishayami mantraih

When Vidyavali entered Sri Radha’s room, She saw that Radha’s body was covered from head to foot with cloth. She told Jatila, “Old woman, remove the cloth that covers your daughter-in-law’s body.
I need to move My hands over Her body, starting from Her feet, while chanting a snake-mantra. My hands will detect what parts of Her body the poison has reached, and when My hands come to those places, I will repeat mantras that will remove the venom.”

tatas calan panir agad amushya
vakshah-sthalam norddham atah param yat
tad ghattayam asa muhuh karabhyam
asya uro garuda-mantra-pathaih

Jatila removed the cloth, and Vidyavali began to move Her hands over Sri Radha. She started with Her feet, gradually moving up Her body. When She reached Sri Radha’s breasts, She went no further, but kept both hands on them as She chanted the incantation to Garuda over and over again.

vidyavalih prakhyad aho kim etad
visham na samyet karavai kim atra
vriddha ’bravit svasyata aushadham tadasye
snushayah kshipa bhojayamum

Vidyavali then turned to Jatila and said, “Old woman, something is wrong! The poison is not leaving. What shall I do now?” Jatila replied, “Kindly take some of that chewed medicine from Your mouth and put it into Hers, then see what happens.”

muhur muhuh prakshipam aushadham tadasye
amushyah krita-mantra-patha
tathapi vaivarnavati vadhus te
prakampate nihsvasiti pragadham

sarva bahir yata-griham kavatenavritya
sarpasya japami mantram
muhurtta-matrena tam eva sarpam
ahuya tenapi sahalapami

cinta na karya tila-matry api drak
sanjivayishyami vadhum tvadiyam
ekagra-citta ghatika-trayante
mantram prajapyakhilam ikshayami

“I keep putting that purified medicine into Her mouth,” Vidyavali said, “but She continues to tremble and breathe deeply. She is still yellow with the poison. I shall have to change the treatment.

All of you please leave the room. I will lock the door and recite a snakemantra to summon the snake that bit your daughter-in-law. The snake will arrive within a moment and I will talk with him.

Do not worry in the slightest; I will very soon revive your daughter-in-law.  After I have been reciting this mantra with focused mind for three hours I will show all of you the result.”

gargi-gira ta yayur anya-geham
muhurttatas cayayur apy athatra
vidyavaler vacam ahes ca gopyo
grihantare bhoh srinutety athocuh

On Gargi’s advice everyone went to another room, and after a while they returned to the courtyard outside Sri Radha’s room.  The gopis, who knew Vidyavali’s real identity, spoke within the hearing of Jatila and Kutila, “Come on,” they said, “let us listen to the conversation between Vidyavali and the snake!”

svara-dvayenaiva jagada krishno
yat tat tu sakhyah sahasa ’vajagmuh
yah kautukananda-samudrayor drag
avartta-magnah su-bhrisam virejuh

bho sarp a -rajatra kutas tvam agah
kailasatah kasya nidesa-krit tvam?
candrarddha-mauleh sa ca kidriso ’bhud
bhunkshvabhimanyum jatila-sutam drak

Sri Krishna feigned two different voices: that of Vidyavali and that of the snake. The sakhis, who understood everything, were immersed in merriment, caught in a whirlpool in the ocean of festive bliss. A wonderful splendor began to spread forth.

In Vidyavali’s voice, Sri Krishna asked, “O king of snakes, where have you come from?”

With the voice of a snake, He replied, “From Kailasa.”

“On whose order have you come?”

“Candrardhamauli Siva ordered me to come here.”

“What was his instruction?”

“To bite Jatila’s son Abhimanyu.”

aghah kim etasya, na kinca kintu
tan-matur evasty aparadha-yugmam
sa kim na dashta, garalanalad apy
apatya-sokagnir ativa-tivrah

taya ’nubhuto bhavatu pragadham
ity etad artham na hi dasyate sa
tyaktva ’bhimanyum katham asya jaya
dashta ’tra sadhavya-vara-pradanat

durvasasasau prathamam na tasmad
dashtah sa dashtavya iha prabhate
putrasya vadhvas ca yatha ’tisoke
jajjvalyate sa nikhilam svam ayuh

“What is Abhimanyu’s crime?” Vidyavali asked.  

“He has not committed any offence,” replied the snake. “But his mother has committed two.”

 

“Then why did you not bite Abhimanyu’s mother?” “Because Jatila will experience a greater burning when she mourns her son than she would through the fire of my venom,” replied the snake. “That is why I did not bite her.”

“Then why did you bite Abhimanyu’s wife instead of him?” inquired Vidyavali.

The snake explained: “Durvasa, the best of sages, has given the blessing of saubhagyavati to Sri Radha, the crown jewel of chaste ladies. Because he has given Her that blessing – to be a woman whose husband is alive – Abhimanyu cannot die as long as She remains alive.

Durvasa’s boon and Sri Radha’s chastity are extremely powerful. That is why I cannot kill Abhimanyu without first biting Sri Radha and killing Her. Today I bit Sri Radha, and at dawn tomorrow I will bite Abhimanyu. The rest of Jatila’s life will be filled with fear some suffering as she mourns both her son and her daughter-in-law.”

kim hanta tasyah aparadha-yugmam
durvasasi srila-hara-svarupe
kataksha eko’sty aparan tu sambhor
ya ishtadevo harir asya camse

nandatmaje ’lika mahapravadas
tad-bhojane badha-karah sva-vadhvah
nirodhatas tan-nija-kanyaya sa
sarddham vraje roditu sarva-kalam

Vidyavali then asked, “Please tell Me, what are the old woman Jatila’s two crimes?”

The snake replied, “Jatila’s first offence was to defame the sage Durvasa, who is a manifestation of Lord Siva himself. The second offence was to falsely accuse Nanda Maharaja’s son, who is even the source of Sri Hari, the worshipable deity of Lord Siva.

By confining her daughter-in-law to Her room, Jatila has created an obstacle for Nanda-nandana Sri Krishna to get His meals. Because of these two offences, Jatila and her daughter Kutila will weep in lamentation for Sri Radha and Abhiman yu for the rest of their lives here in Vrajamandala.”

ha putra! ha prana-same snushe kim
srinomi ha hanta! cirayushaus tam
vidyavale! tvac-caranau prapanna
prasadayamum bhujagadhirajam

vadhum na rotsyami kadapi seyam
prayatu nandasya puram yatheshtam
sambhojayitvaiva harim prakamam
pakta punar mad-griham etu nityam

When old Jatila heard this, she began to weep loudly. She cried in grief, “Alas, alas, O my son, O daughter-in-law, who are my very life air! Will I never again hear you receive the blessing, ‘May you both live long” She then implored Vidyavali: “O Vidyavali, I am surrendering at Your feet.

Please satisfy this king of snakes, somehow or other. From now on, I will never prevent my daughter-in-law from daily going to Nanda Maharaja’s house to cook for Sri Krishna. She is free to go according to Her desire. She will return home only when She has completed all Her duties there.

durvasasam tam sataso namami
mune ’paradham mama ha kshamasva
jaraturaya atimanda-buddher
ajanma-batulataya sthitayah

“O Durvasa, best of sages! I pay my obeisances at your feet hundreds and hundreds of times. I am praying to you to please forgive my offence. I am renowned for being old, feeble-minded and quite mad since birth.

kanya mameyam tu sada kubuddhir
vadhuh susilam prasabham dunoti
srutveti matur vacanam dharanyam
nipatya soce kutila ’pi natva

kshamasva sarpendra-kripam kurushva
mad-bhrataram ma dasa naiva rotsye
vadhum na capi pravadami jatu
tatralibhir yatra bhavet tad-iccha

“The mind of my daughter Kutila has always been devious and crooked. Sri Radha’s character and disposition are good, but my daughter has caused Her much suffering for no reason.” Hearing her mother’s words, Kutila fell to the ground to offer her respects to the snake.

“O king of snakes, please forgive me! Please be kind and do not bite my brother! I will never again make any accusations against Radha, and I will never again prevent Her from leaving the house. From now on She can go wherever She wants with Her sakhis.”

sarpo ’vadad bhoh srinutasu gopyah
sadhvy eva radha sapatho ’tra sambhoh
tvan capi kritva sapatham sva-sunor
murddhno vadatrastu mama pratitih

The king of snakes said, “O gopis, carefully hear My words. I swear by Lord Sambhu that Sri Radha is a virtuous and chaste wife. O Jatila, I will only trust you if you accept this as fact and swear an oath upon the head of your son.”

tvad-ukta ittham sapathah krito ’yam
vadhum na rotsyami kadapy ahindra!
snusha ca putras ca ciraya jivatv
imam varam me kripaya prayaccha

On hearing this, Jatila placed her hand on her son’s head, and swore the oath. She then said, “O king of snakes, I have full faith in Your words. I will never again confine my daughter-in-law to the house. Please bestow Your mercy upon me this once by blessing my son and daughter-in-law with long life.”

badham prasanno ’smi jaraty ayi tvam
durvasasam pujaya bhojayasva
radhangatah svam garalam grihitva
vrajami kailasam ito ’dhunaiva

krishna-pravadam yadi te snushayai
dadasi dehy atra na me ’sti kopah
runatsi tam cet sahasagatas te
vadhun ca putran ca rusha dasami

The snake then said, “So be it. I am completely satisfied with you, old lady. You should also worship Sage Durvasa and offer him good food. I shall now remove the poison from Sri Radha’s body and return to Kailasa.

If you wish, you may falsely accuse your daughter in-law of having some relationship with Sri Krishna; I will not be angry with you for that. But from this day forth, if you ever prevent Her from going here and there, I will be so enraged I will immediately bite your son and daughter-in-law, and they will both die.”

provaca vidyavalir atta-moda
bho gopika dhatta-mudam mahishtham
visham grihitvanta radhad ahindro
niramayabhud vrishabhanu-putri

Thereafter, Vidyavali’s voice joyfully exclaimed, “O gopis, now you can be supremely blissful! The snake has removed the poison and disappeared, and Vrishabhanu-nandini is completely cured.”

udghatayam asa yada kavatam
tadaiva sarva vivisur grihantah
papracchur etam ayi! kidrisi tvam
sustha ’smi tapo mama nasti ko ’pi

They opened the door and entered the room. “Radha,” they asked, “how are You feeling now?”
“I am feeling well,” She replied. “I do not feel any burning sensation any more.”

vidyavaler anghri-yugam pranemur
dhanyaiva vidya tava dhanya-kirtte
sanjivya radham ayi punya-vithim
dhanyam avindas tava dhanyam ayuh

Everyone bowed respectfully at Vidyavali’s feet and said, “O Vidyavali, all glories to You! You have gained limitless pious credit by restoring Sri Radha’s life, and Your life has become completely auspicious.”

lalaga karne kutila jaratyah
sa praha kanye kim idam bravishi
ekena harena kim adya sarvalankaram
asya adhunaiva dasye

Kutila whispered in Jatila’s ear, “Mother, give Sri Radha’s necklace to Vidyavali as a reward.”

“What are you saying, Kutila?” Jatila responded. “Why only a necklace?

I will give Her all of Sri Radha’s jewelery!”

snushe! prasida sva-karena sarvalankaram
etam paridhapaya tvam
vrajesvari tvaj-janani ca sighram
dasyaty anekabharanani tubhyam

“Daughter-in-law,” Jatila said, “with a happy heart adorn Vidyavali with all Your ornaments. Your mother and Vrajesvari Sri Yasoda will soon give You many new ones.”

vidyavale! mac-chapatho na neti
ma bruhyato maunavati tava tvam
tatas tu radha paridhapayanti
bhushambaradi-svagatam jagada

“Vidyavali, my daughter-in-law will personally adorn You with these decorations. Please accept them for my sake; do not say that You cannot accept these gifts.” Sri Radha proceeded to use Her clothes, ornaments and so forth to decorate Sri Krishna, who was disguised as Vidyavali. As She did so, She thought:

yo mam sakhinam purato ’pi naiva
sasaka sambhoktum ayam priyo me
svasrva nanandus ca samaksham eva
mam nirvivadam sama-bhunkta badham

“My beloved and I cannot enjoy in front of My sakhis, even though they are as close to Me as My own soul; yet today He has freely enjoyed with Me to His heart’s content, right in front of My motherin-law and sister-in-law!

vamyan ca karttum mama navakaso
‘bhuvam param kevala-dakshinaiva
kintv adya vancha janusho ’py apuri
tac-carvitam bhuktam aho muhur yat

“Today I had no opportunity to display My contrary nature (vamya-bhava); I could only remain in a submissive mood (dakshinabhava).  But let it be. Today, the desire I have held dear birth after birth has been fulfilled, because today, over and over again, I tasted the tambula chewed by My beloved.

pade nipatyaiva madiya-kantam
aniya sakshat samabhojayan mam
vadhum tad asyas carane nananduh
svasrvas ca me bhaktir avicyuta ’stu

“For such a long time I have considered My mother-in-law and sister-in-law to be My enemies, but today they have brought My Prana-kanta, the beloved of My life, to our very house. They have bowed down and worshipped His feet, and they were the cause of Him meeting and even enjoying openly with Me. Because of this, I pray to have firm devotion to their feet.

sambhoga-pascad api tan-nidesac
chringavayami priyam agrato ’pi
asya aye dhanya vidhe numas tvam
vrittam tavaitat kva nu varnayami

“Today We met each other, and now I am decorating My beloved Prana-vallabha directly in front of My mother-in-law; and on her order as well! O Providence, you are blessed! I offer you My homage and sing your glories. Where and to whom could I possibly narrate this incident that was orchestrated by you?”

vidyavalih praha bhaginy atah kim
arye! tvad-ajnam karavai vadaitat
ya vo griham sighram atah paran tu
ratrir nisithad api hy adhika ’bhut

“Noble Jatila,” said Vidyavali, “it is already after midnight. Please tell us what you want us to do now. If you have no more instructions, we two sisters should quickly return home.”

jaraty avadid ayi gargi! vidyavalis
tatha tvan ca hathad iyatyam
ratrau katham yasy atha ah sukhena
mamaiva gehe svapitam katham na?

Old Jatila said, “Gargi and Vidyavali, how can you return to your home in the middle of the night? Why do you not happily rest in our house tonight?”

jagada gargi jatile! tvad-uktam
avasyam etat karavava badham
na yati cittad visha-sesha-gandhasambhavana
me khala-sarpa-jateh

Gargi replied, “I will certainly obey your words, because a trace of that deceitful snake’s poison is still left in our hearts and has not been completely dispelled. When someone has been bitten by this black snake (krishna-sarpa), their fever may seem to go down at first, but there is a chance that it may rise again. It is necessary for the patient to remain near the one who is learned in mantras.”

provaca badham jatila sa-kanya
tad adya vadhva saha pushpa-talpe
ekatra vidyavalir iddha-mantra
sukham balabhyam svapitu prakamam

Both Kutila and Jatila said, “So be it. Let Vidyavali, who is learned in mantras, rest happily together with Sri Radha on the flower-bed in the room on the roof.”

iddam vilasa-rasikau rata-sindhu caru
hillola-khelana-kalah kila tena tushtau
premabdhi-kautuka-mahishtha-taranga-range
sakhyah sukhena nanritur na viramam apuh

Sri Radha and Sri Krishna are most adept in relishing divine pastimes.  The ingenious, artistic sports They manifest are magnificent waves in the ocean of pure, spiritual amorous love. The sakhis also dance incessantly in this sporting arena in the waves of merriment in the ocean of prema.

Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!
 

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