Post by madanmohandas on Oct 29, 2021 4:53:23 GMT -6
In the calendar today is the manifestation of Radha kunda. A passage from Chaitanya Charitamrta gives an account of how the kunda was revealed.
In this manner the Master danced and danced,
Toward the village Arit-gram advanced,
And gained external sense, arriving there,
And of his surroundings came full aware.
He did at Arit-gram by question seek
To learn of Radha-kund, but none did speak.
Neither could his brahman companion say,
In which direction Radha kunda lay
The Master, to whom all things stand revealed,
Considered now the holy place concealed.
But he into the rice field off the path,
In two small pools of water took his bath.
The people were astonied at the sight,
While the Lord praised Radha-kund with delight.
"Of all the cowherd dames Radha can boast,
That she to Krishna is beloved most,
And he fond affection for Radha proves,
And even as herself her lake he loves.'
(A verse is cited from Padma Purana)
As Radha is beloved of Vishnu,
He is intently fond of her lake too;
Among all the fair cowherd damosels,
She only in Vishnu's fond love excels.'
C.C.Madhya. 18
Sri Raghunath Das Goswami’s
Sri Radha Kundastakam.
The prince of Vrnda's forest was impelled,
What time the great bull-demon had been felled,
When all the cowherd damsels had conferred,
To expiate the sin he had incurred;
They taunted him with breach of holy vow,
By killing, though a demon, a male cow;
So Radha with her friends, after debate,
With their own hands began to excavate,
And manifest a beautiful clear pool,
With great delight, to stay in summer cool.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 1
The wish-fulfilling tree of love will grow
Within a fertile heart, for Mura's foe;
A love for which the cowherd dames aspire,
Yet hardly can fulfill that deep desire;
For one who bathes within that lake, straightway,
That tree of love sprouts up without delay;
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 2
Even Agha's great enemy doth crave,
His limbs within that fragrant lake to lave;
And makes his vows and prays he might possess,
At least a side-long glance from his goddess.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 3
That lake, which is to Vraja's moon the place,
Where reigns the love of his dear sweet Goddess,
And is to him as dear as she is dear,
Who among all sweet damsels doth appear
As the crown-jewel of adolescent dames;
That after her sweet name the lake he names.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 4
Some people here have by their service won
Great mercy from the cowherd king's dear son,
And worshiping this fragrant lake divine,
Sprouts up within a celestial vine,
Which then doth suddenly burst into flower,
As service of my empress in the bower.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 5
Around this lake are many dainty bow'rs,
Delightful with the odour of fresh flow'rs,
Where humming bees around the blossoms rove,
And resonate through each and every grove;
Each bower is distinguished by the names,
Of the dear confidential cowherd dames.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 6
A fine raised platform by the shore there is,
And sitting there, my beauteous princess,
With her dear friends holds discourse, and provokes
Delightsome laughter with her merry jokes;
And joyfully discuss what deeds were done,
With comic gestures, by Vrndavan’s moon.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 7
That lovely lake abounds with lotus flowers,
Surcharging all the place with sweet odours,
With scented water filled that charms the eye,
Where the delightsome couple daily vie,
In water sports, splashing with eager strokes,
Which passion's frenzy in them both provokes;
Thus with their dear companions every day,
Within that fragrant lake delighted play.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 8
Whoever with a steady mind and pure,
Recites, with care, these stanzas, will procure
From the beautiful goddess of the lake,
Who in her service dedication make;
That in this present body they might see,
The handsome form of Madhu's enemy,
While locked in a firm passionate embrace,
And see the loving couple face to face. 9
Finis
In this manner the Master danced and danced,
Toward the village Arit-gram advanced,
And gained external sense, arriving there,
And of his surroundings came full aware.
He did at Arit-gram by question seek
To learn of Radha-kund, but none did speak.
Neither could his brahman companion say,
In which direction Radha kunda lay
The Master, to whom all things stand revealed,
Considered now the holy place concealed.
But he into the rice field off the path,
In two small pools of water took his bath.
The people were astonied at the sight,
While the Lord praised Radha-kund with delight.
"Of all the cowherd dames Radha can boast,
That she to Krishna is beloved most,
And he fond affection for Radha proves,
And even as herself her lake he loves.'
(A verse is cited from Padma Purana)
As Radha is beloved of Vishnu,
He is intently fond of her lake too;
Among all the fair cowherd damosels,
She only in Vishnu's fond love excels.'
C.C.Madhya. 18
Sri Raghunath Das Goswami’s
Sri Radha Kundastakam.
The prince of Vrnda's forest was impelled,
What time the great bull-demon had been felled,
When all the cowherd damsels had conferred,
To expiate the sin he had incurred;
They taunted him with breach of holy vow,
By killing, though a demon, a male cow;
So Radha with her friends, after debate,
With their own hands began to excavate,
And manifest a beautiful clear pool,
With great delight, to stay in summer cool.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 1
The wish-fulfilling tree of love will grow
Within a fertile heart, for Mura's foe;
A love for which the cowherd dames aspire,
Yet hardly can fulfill that deep desire;
For one who bathes within that lake, straightway,
That tree of love sprouts up without delay;
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 2
Even Agha's great enemy doth crave,
His limbs within that fragrant lake to lave;
And makes his vows and prays he might possess,
At least a side-long glance from his goddess.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 3
That lake, which is to Vraja's moon the place,
Where reigns the love of his dear sweet Goddess,
And is to him as dear as she is dear,
Who among all sweet damsels doth appear
As the crown-jewel of adolescent dames;
That after her sweet name the lake he names.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 4
Some people here have by their service won
Great mercy from the cowherd king's dear son,
And worshiping this fragrant lake divine,
Sprouts up within a celestial vine,
Which then doth suddenly burst into flower,
As service of my empress in the bower.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 5
Around this lake are many dainty bow'rs,
Delightful with the odour of fresh flow'rs,
Where humming bees around the blossoms rove,
And resonate through each and every grove;
Each bower is distinguished by the names,
Of the dear confidential cowherd dames.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 6
A fine raised platform by the shore there is,
And sitting there, my beauteous princess,
With her dear friends holds discourse, and provokes
Delightsome laughter with her merry jokes;
And joyfully discuss what deeds were done,
With comic gestures, by Vrndavan’s moon.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 7
That lovely lake abounds with lotus flowers,
Surcharging all the place with sweet odours,
With scented water filled that charms the eye,
Where the delightsome couple daily vie,
In water sports, splashing with eager strokes,
Which passion's frenzy in them both provokes;
Thus with their dear companions every day,
Within that fragrant lake delighted play.
May I, by gracious favour, refuge take,
By Radha's beautiful and fragrant lake. 8
Whoever with a steady mind and pure,
Recites, with care, these stanzas, will procure
From the beautiful goddess of the lake,
Who in her service dedication make;
That in this present body they might see,
The handsome form of Madhu's enemy,
While locked in a firm passionate embrace,
And see the loving couple face to face. 9
Finis