Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi

[madanmohandas]

Sri Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi By Prabodhananda Sarasvati, also attributed by some to Hitaharivamsa Goswami.

nindantaM pulakotkarenavikasannIpa prasUnAcchaviM
prorddhikrtya bhujadvayaM hariharityuccairvadantaM muhuh/
nrtyantaM drutamazrunirjharacayaih sincantamurvItalaM
gAyantaM nijapArSadaih parivrtaM zrIgauracandraM numah//

1.
Praise to Gauracandra, surrounded by his devoted train,
whose fair limbs chide the glory of fresh kadamba fillements
as the hairs on his body stand on end; who raises
his mighty arms and cries, O alas, alas! again
and yet again; who dances and sings and
sprinkles the earth with torrents of his tears.

[madanmohandas]

yasyAh kadApi vasanAncalakhelanottha
dhanyAtidhanyapavanena krtArthamAnI/
yogIndradurgamagatirmadhusUdano'pi
tasyA namostu vrSabhAnubhuvo dize'pi//

2.
Even Madhusudana, whose ways are incomprehensable
to the kings of those adept in yoga, feels gratified
with a sense of one fulfilled of purpose, by the touch
of that most blessed blessed breeze, occasionally
wafted by the fluttering garment of Vrsabhanu's daughter;
I bow even to the direction graced by her presence.

brahmezvarAdisudurUhapadAravinda-
zrImatparAgaparamAdbhutavaibhavAyAh/
sarvArthasArarasavarSikrpArdra drSTe-
stasyA namostu vrSabhanubhuvo mahimne//

3.
I salute the majestic granduer of Vrsabhanu's daughter,
the passing wondrous potency of the pollen-dust
of whose lotus-feet is very hardly attained by great gods,
such as Brahma and Isha; yet whose glance,
melting with compassion, showers the essence
of all human attainments.

yo brahmarudrazukanAradabhISmamukhyai-
rAlaksito na sahasA puruSasya tasya/
sadyovazIkaraNacurNamanantazaktiM
taM rAdhikAcaraNareNumanusmarAmi//

4.
That male being, who cannot be easily discerned
even by the foremost of the great, such as Brahma,
Rudra, Suka, Narada, Bhisma and others,
is instantly subjugated by that magic powder,
possessed of infinite puissance; that pollen-dust
of Radhika's feet I always remember.

AdhAya mUrdhani yadApurudAragopyah
kAmyaM padaM priyaguNairapi picchamauleh/
bhAvotsavena bhajatAM rasakAmadhenuM
taM rAdhikAcaraNareNumahaM smarAmi//


5.
I recall the pollen-dust of Radhika's feet,
which the generous cowherd maids reverently
placed upon their forheads, with the desire
to attain the status of her hand-maid,
with all its delightfull qualities; a status
coveted even by him who wears
the peacock feather head dress.
And to those who adore it with a
festivity of passion, it bestows, like the
wish-yeilding cow, the quintessence of rasa.

divyapramodarasasAranijAngasanga
pIyUSavIcinicayairabhiSecayantI/
kandarpakoTizaramUrcchitanandasUnu-
sanjIvanI jayati kApi nikunjadevI//

6.
All hail to the incredible goddess of the bower,
who administers the restorotive elixir for
reviving Nanda's son, - who having been assailed
by a million shafts of Cupid, fell into a swoon,-
by infusing him with the surging billows
of ambrosia flowing from the contact of her limbs,
which is to him the very essence of divine joy.

tannah pratiksaNacamatkrtacArulIlA-
lAvaNya mohanmahAmadhurAngabhangi/
rAdhAnanaM hi madhurAngakalAnidhAna-
mAvirbhaviSyati kadA rasasindhusAram//


7.
When will that face of Radha, like the essence
churned from the sea of rasa, appear before us?
Which resembles the full moon swelling
the tide of sweet beauty; and the wondrous,
exquisit, playful and charming gestures
makes its bewitching sweetness all the more
passing sweet, moment by moment.

[madanmohandas]

yatkinkarISu bahuzah khalu kAkuvANI
nityaM parasya puruSasya zikhaNDamauleh/
tasyAh kadA rasanidhervrSabhAnujAyA-
statkelikunjabhavanAngaNamArjanI syAm//

8.
Whose maid-servants are repeatedly importuned
in plaintive tones by the supreme male being
who wears the peacock feather crown;
ah, when shall I become a sweeper in the
courtyard of the play-bower of Vrsabhanu's daughter?

vrndAni sarvamahatAmapahAya dUrAd
vrndATavImanusara praNayena cetah/
sattAraNIkrtasubhAvasudhArasaughaM
rAdhAbhidhAnamiha divyanidhAnamasti//

9.
O my mind, leave afar off all greatness
and roam with fond delight the Vrnda forest,
where exists the perenial fount of love
overflowing with ambrosia, known here
by the name of Radha, who is ever inclined
to redeem the good natured.

[madanmohandas]

kenApi nAgaravareNa pade nipatya
saMprarthitaikaparirambharasotsavAyA/
sabhrUvibhangamatiranganidhe kadA te
zrIrAdhike nahinahIti girah zrnomi//

10.
O Sri Radhike, when shall I hear thee saying,
' No, no', and playfully contracting thy lovely eye-brows,
in responce to the importunate submission
for the festival of a single embrace by the
formost of lovers, bent low at thy feet?

Hindi poet Bihari says;

Although 'no! no!' is ever on her lips,
Yet from her eye-brows, laughter-filled, she sends
Another message; while denial lies
In her uncertain words, her eyes consent.

(K.P.Bahadur)

[madanmohandas]

yatpAdapadmanakhacandramaNicchaTAyAh
visphUrjitaM kimapi gopavadhUSvadarzi/
pUrNAnurAgarasasAgarasAramUrtih
sA rAdhikA mayi kadApi krpAM karotu//

11.
Some indeterminate radiance from the
moon-gem like toe nails of whose feet
was reflected in the cowherd damsels.
Will that Radhika, who embodies the essence
of the ocean of full, ever fresh and passionate love,
ever be gracious to me?

[madanmohandas]

ujjrmbhamANarasavArinidhestarangai-
rangairiva praNayalolavilocanAyAh/
tasyA kadA nu bhavitA mayi puNyaDrSTir-
vrndATavInavanikunjagrhAdhidevyAh//

12.
Whose various limbs are as surging billows
in the sea of liquid love; whose eyes are
tremulous due to intensity of affectation;
O when will that tutelary goddess of the
new bower cottage in Vrnda forest,
cast her gracious glance on me?

vrndAvanezvarI tavaiva padAravindaM
premAmrtaikamakarandarasaughapUrNam/
hrdyarpitaM madhupateh smaratApamugraM
nirvApayatparamazItalalamAzrayAmi//

13.
O goddess of Vrndavan! I seek refuge at thy feet,
which stream forth the singular ambrosial
flower-nectar of perfect and profuse love,
and which, when deposited on Madhupati's bosom,
extinguishes the feirce heat of passion,
by their most cool and soothing touch.

[madanmohandas]

rAdhAkarAvacitapallavavallrIke
rAdhApadAnkavilasanmadhurasthalIke/
rAdhAyazomukharamattakhagAvalIke
rAdhAvihAravipine ramatAM mano me//

14.
May my mind delightedly dwell in Radha's play-garden,
where the sprouting vines are plucked by Radha's hands;
where there are charming places with imprints of Radha' feet;
and where teeming flocks of drunken parrots sing Radha's glory.

[madanmohandas]

Incidently, one might wonder why I am posting these verses and how, as there are already English translations available. I am using as reference in English, Advaitadasji's version and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan edition, and a Bengali translation by Sri Haridas Sastri, and the little Sanskrt I know. As well as being a kind of public excersise where anyone can suggest corrections/alterations etc., It might give some pleasure to the reader; hope so.

[madanmohandas]

kRSNAmrtaM cala vigAdumitIritAhaM
tAvatsahava rajanI sakhi yAvadeti/
itthaM vihasya vrSabhAnusuteha lapsye
mAnaM kadA rasadakelikadambajAjam//

15.
When requested to accompany thee
for a dip in the 'Black nectar', I shall advise thee,
my companion, to have patience till night fall.
On hearing such jocund words, O daughter
of Vrsabhanu, when shall I receive the honour
of being struck by thee with the Kadamba play-flower?

KrsnAmrta, or Black nectar is the river Yamuna or the nectar of black Krsna.

[madanmohandas]

pAdAngulInihitadrSTimapatrapiSNuM
dUrAdudIksya rasikendramukhendubimbam/
vIkse calatpadagatiM caritAbhirAmAM
jhankAranUpuravatIM bata karhi rAdhAm//

16.
Marking from a distance the moon-like countenence
of the king of conosuers, she whose ways
are most delightfull, proceeds towards him
with sounding anklets, while her gaze
is bashfully riveted on her toes;
Ah, when shall I behold Radha
drawing nigh to her lover in this manner?

[madanmohandas]

ujjAgaraM rasikanAgarasangarangaih
kunjodare krtavatI nu mudA rajanyAm/
susnApitA hi madhunaiva subhojitA tvaM
rAdhe kadA svapiSi matkaralAlitAnghrih//

17.
Having kept awake the whole night
in the bower cottage, in true delights
of playful love-dalliance with thy fond and
humerous lover, and after I have bathed thee well
and fed thee sweet dainties, O Radhe!
when shall I gently caress thy feet whilst
thou fallest into soft repose?

vaidagdhyasindhuranurAgarasaikasindhur-
vAtsalyasindhuratisAndrakrpaikasindhuh/
lAvaNyasindhuramrtacchavirUpasindhuh
zrIrAdhikA sphuratu me hrdi kelisindhuh//

(The seven seas of Radha's attributes.)

18.
May that (1) ocean of love-play, Sri Radhika,
manifest in my heart; who is a (2) sea of amorous
dexterity; the unique (3) ocean of the sentiment
of constant passion; the (4) ocean of benevolent
affection; the (5) sea of most intense and
singular compassion; the (6) ocean of sweet
loveliness and the (7) sea of nectar-like radiant beauty.

[madanmohandas]

drStvaiva campakalatena camatkrtAngI
veNudhvaniM kva ca nizamya ca vihvalAngI/
sA zyAmasundaraguNairanugIyamAnaih
prItA pariSvajatu mAM vrSabhAnuputrI//

19.
The limbs of whose body become suddenly thrilled
with excitement, at the sight of her lover,
like a budding Campaka vine; whose body
undergoes extreem aggitation whenever
she hears the strains of his flute;
O will that daughter of Vrsabhanu,
pleased with my singing the virtues of the
beautiful Dark One, fondly embrace me?

zrIrAdhike surataranginitambabhAge
kAncIkalApakalahaMsakaLAnuLapaih/
manjIrazinjitamadhuvratagunjitanghri
pankeruhaih ziziraya svarasacchaTAbhih//

20.
O Sri Radhike, who delights in amorous play.
Sooth me by the spontaneous manifestation
of thy love, as percieved by the swan-like
warbling produced by the tinkling zone
placed around thy ample buttocks,
and the sounding anklets on thy feet
like humming honey-bees.

( In Haridas Sastri's reading; 'O Sri Radhike, sooth Sri Krsna with amorous play...')

[madanmohandas]

The poet puns on the word 'suratarangini', which taken as 'surata-rangani', means a 'lady who delights in love-play, or 'sura-tarangini', the' river of the gods', ei., the Ganga.

zrIrAdhike suratarangiNi divyakeli-
kallolamAlini lasadvadanAravindam/
syAmamrtAmbunidhisangamatIvravege-
nyAvarttayAbhiruciro mama sannidhehi//

21.
O Suratarangini Radhike! Thou art as the river
of the gods; thy current is the wave-like
succession of divine love-play; thy countenance
is as the lotus in the stream; thou dost vigorously
hasten for union with the Dark Sea of Nectar,
and the concavity of thy navel resembles
whirlpools of refluent currents; deign to flow by me.

satpremasindhumakarandarasaughadhArA-
sArAnajasramabhitah sravadAzriteSu/
zrIrAdhike tava kadA caraNAravindaM
govindajIvanadhanaM zirasA vahAmi//

22.
O Sri Radhike, when shall I bear upon my head
thy lotus-feet, which are the very treasure
of Govinda's life, and which insessently shower
profuse torrents of ambrosia flowing
from the perenial reservior of the quintessence
of true love towards those wholy resigned to thee.

[madanmohandas]

sanketakunjamanukanjaramandagAmi
nyAdAya divyamrducandanagandhamAlyam/
tvAM kAmakelirabhasena kadA calantI
rAdhe'nuyAmi padavImupadarzayantI//

23.
While proceeding with the slow gait
of a cow elephant towards the trysting bower,
all eager for love-play, O Radhe, when shall I
follow thee, carrying soft celestial sandal-paste,
perfumes and flower wreaths, and pointing out the way?

gatvA kalindatanayAvijanAvatAram-
udvarttayantyamrtamangamanangajIvam/
zrIrAdhike tava kadA navanAgarendra
pazyAmi magnanayanaM sthitamuccanIpe//

24.
Having descended to a lonely spot
by the banks of Mount Kalinda's daughter,
and whilst applying to thy nectar-like limbs
fragrant oils and scented powder,
which rouse Cupid to life, O Sri Radhike,
when shall I espy thy fresh prince of gallants
seated on the bough of the lofty Neepa tree,
with his eyes engrossed in the beauty of thy form?

[madanmohandas]

satpremarAzisaraso vikasatsarojaM
svAnandasIdhurasasindhuvivardhanendum/
tacchrImukhaM kuTilakuntalabhrngajuSTaM
zrIrAdhike tava kadA nu vilokayiSye//

25.
O Sri Radhike, when shall I behold indeed
thy most beautifil countenence, which resembles
the unfolding lotus in the brimming lake of true love;
which is like the moon causing the swelling tide
in the ambrosial ocean of thy inherent bliss,
and is embelished by pendulous tresses
like hovering black honey bees?

lAvaNyasArarasasArasukhaikasAre
kAruNyasAramadhuracchavirUpasAre/
vaidagdyasAraratikelivilAsasAre
rAdhAbhidhe mama manokhilasArasAre//

26.
May my mind rejoice in one who's by the name
of Radha called, who is the quintessence of all
essences; who is the essence of loveliness,
essence of love's sensitivties and the essence
of exclusive joy; who is the essence of tender
compassion, the essence of sweet and radiant beauty,
the essence of amorous dexterity and the
very essence of the diversions of love-play.

cintAmaNih praNamatAm vrajanAgarINAM-
cUDAmaNih kulamaNivrSabhAnunAmnih/
sA zyAmakAmavarazAntimaNirnikunja-
bhUSAmaNihrdayasampuTasanmaNirnah//

27.
Who is the wish-yeilding gem to those
that bow to her; who is the jewel-in-the-crown
among the damsels of Vraja; who is the
family jewel in Vrsabhanu's house,
and she is the choicest gem to soothe
the amorous passion of the Dark One,
the gem that decorates the bowers, and
the truly prescious gem in the casket of our heart.