Saturday, April 4, 2009

Shri Radha Kripakataksha Stotra: 6th shloka



Asheshaavbhaavdheerheerhaarbhooshite,
Prabhootshaatkumbhkumbhkumbhikumbhsustanee.

Prashastmandhasyachoornpoornsaukyasaagre,

Kada karishyaseeh maan kripakatakshabhajnam.


Shri Radha, the svamini or devotional ideal encapsulates the idea of shrinagara devotion that propels Vaishnava bhakti. Her perspectives, thoughts, voice and mannerisms are not only of her relationship with Krishna but equally those of other sakhis, gopas and the denizens of Braj. Constantly self-assured, her blissful energy is priceless due to her dignified persona.


Even if Shri Radhika is longing for a romantic dalliance...to relish and bestow love, she handles the situation with calm resoluteness. Her patience arouses the supreme lover's restlessness. Krishna relieves the pangs and is calmed himself in the process. Soon after, keen to view the ardent longing of his beloved, mischievously he compels her to be offended.


She sulks...apparently seeming composed but restlessness tugs her heart strings within...Very well aware of the mazes of love, Krishna adulates her with a forlorn face...moving her with humble entreaties. His dejection and sullen majesty make Shri Radha pine for him and instantly her calm transforms into an exquisite desire for a new love-sport.


Shri Radha encapsulates the complete majesty of love-play. The bright moon of love scatters its passionate moonbeams constantly, making her blissful energy sparkle and seeing his reflection in her lustrous inner realm, the supreme lover, figures out a new romantic dalliance. Soon enough making Radha restless, Krishna calmly relishes the escapade himself. All tender delightful emotions are said to arise in the elusive fields, forests and streams of the heart.


How very affectionate is the beloved's dallying ground! Glowing like golden water pots (gold has always been considered pure-similarly Shri Radha's bosom is the repository of constantly pristine love rays) well formed and smoothly healthy is her bosom like a she elephant's.


Merely by reflection, devotees attain her eternal compassion, which bestows the right to savour the love of Krishna, the supreme lover. The gentle laughter of her lovingly tender countenance is an ocean of delight... The heights of her joyous abandon can not be weighed or counted or even imagined.


Even so Radha's fragmented laughter is constantly cradled like a secretive treasure trove in the darling son of Nanda, Krishna, the delightful wealth of our lives. Laughter has been termed dust because it is endowed with minuteness...introducing love's significance; wherein hundreds of sentiments are gathered...mannerisms and amusing romantic escapades are encompassed.


With its assistance love and delight reach the heights of elation and ecstasy; rasikas have reached the deeper ecstasies of devotion by attaining a small chain of her laughter's glory.


The humble composer of Shri Radha Kripakataksha Stotra makes a meek prayer, 'Adorned with the entire gamut of mannerisms, epitome of patience, an affectionate and largehearted bosom, endowed with a slight laugh: Oh Svamini the charming conferrer of the ocean of joy! Beloved of Krishna! The compassionate one! When will you be moved and chose us as worthy recipients of the grace of your side-long glance?'


Sometime those days will arrive when gathering our distress in the moments of expectancy, we turn eagerly desirous for once. May the conferrer of compassion, Shri Radhika, bequeath her mercy on us so that we attain a fragment of delight from the treasure trove of joy.

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Shri Radha Kripakataksha Stotra: 5th shloka


Madonmadaatiyauvanepramodmanmanidate-

Priyanuraagranjitekalaavilaspandite.

Ananyadhanyakunjrajkaamkelikovide-

Kadaa karishyaseeh maan kripakatakshabhaajnam.


'Intoxicated by the ardour of youth and delighted by immense pride; immersed in the love of the supreme lover and endowed with the skills of dallying, Shri Radhika is well versed in the mysteries of enigmatic Krishna's love-play! Oh Svamini, when will you make me the recipient of your favourable glance!'


Shri Radha's irresistibly attractive form is etched out in this verse, whereas the fourth shloka detailed her spirited version. With passion cascading from her fragrant limbs, Shri Radhika enraptures the lover in various ways, making him relish the romantic sentiment and doing so herself.The terrifying rush of Krishna's love is its source which spills over for the sake of interpersonal romantic exchange.


Savouring this passion, the lover is ecstatic and his ardent longing rises.By his winsome manners, amorous frolics...lovable entreaties...Shr Radha's reaches the heights of elation and ecstasy but angered apparently, she sulks.


Arrogance ornaments her moon like beauty and the repository of love affectedly makes the supreme lover pine for her. Eagerly desirous, he pleases Priyaji with several charming endeavours, placates her...amuses her. One does not know whether this amusement vexes Radha or the pangs are a result of appeasing.


Hence Krishna falls at her feet, vowing to be faithful in the future (though he is never constant). When he makes humble requests, Shri Radha's feigned rage transforms into a smile and infatuated by Krishna's love, she is engaged in a new romantic dalliance. Soon after forgetting his promises, Krishna resorts to the earlier fickle stratagems.


Hundreds of episodes of romantic dalliances bring good fortune to the realm of nikunjas in Braj. Well versed in the art of love-play, Shri Radhika is no less than the supreme lover. Both are very proficient in the battlefield of love. The definition of triumph and defeat changes; victorious even on being defeated, Shri Radha-Krishna are meted out varied punishments and gifts.


The romantic escapades are constant. Dimensions of their labour, and respite is probably identical; wherein dallying is also considered rest. Therefore when Shr Radha asked in a trance whether it was night or morning time, the impassioned son of Nanda blurted,'Night!'


Thus the two have no inkling about fatigue- since they both are perfect in the mazes of love-play. Shri Radha experienced in the art of amorous frolics, very well know the ways of delighting her lover.


Transcendental love of the highest order, their love sports counters accusations of mundane sexuality with clearly defined distinctions between lust and love.The live playfull dalliance of idyllic Braj is the zenith of spiritual awareness, which turns all sensual pleasure of the world to ashes instantly. The play between Radha and Krishna as they move into the mazes and mysteries of love is stripped of earthly desires or any form of self gratification.


Soon after the joyous abandon of these mysterious dalliances move the heart and soul, and make us rapturuous. The composer of the stotra beseeches the svamini to make our thoughts pure, by casting her compassionate glance.


And bestowed a fragment of Shri Radha-Krishna's romantic dallying, as we gather knowledge of enchanting the supreme lover, impassioned Krishna makes our heart his playground, to honour Shri Radha's kripakataksha.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Shri Radha Kripakataksha Stora: 4th shloka


Tarhitsuvarnhchampakpradeeptgaurvigrahe-

Mukhprabhaparastkotishardendumandale.

Vichitrachitrasancharcchakorshavlochne

kada karishyaseeh maan kripakatshabhajnam.


'The one whose supremely auspicious fair-complexioned individual form is like a flash of lightning's golden lustre and blooming blossoms...her divine face's reddish glow triumphs over hundreds of autumnal full moons. And pointed shapely eyes resemble the young partridge (supposed to live on moonbeams); when will Shri Shri Radhika, the compassionate beloved of Krishna, the supreme lover, cast her graceful sight on us and satiate the perennial quest of mankind for a divine and transcendental love.'


A true to life and spirited description of Shri Radha's irresistibly attractive form! A seeker easily attains the ultimate reality when the doe-eyed Radha, bestows a favourable glance. Hundreds of lightning streaks turn pale in the presence of her lustrous face. Lightning hides in the dark-hued gathered clouds and flashes off and on.


But when the impassioned Kishori finds respite in the blue-hued handsome god, her sole refuge,the loveliness is endowed with freedom and spontaneity. Multifaceted and reaching the heights of elation and ecstasy, her beauty tugs at the supreme lover's heart strings.


Sometimes her beaming fair-complexion and Krishna's glowing yellow sash seem to compete. Sighting the lover's flirtatious glance she blushes a deep red. Her sweet face is the abode of several passionate sentiments. At times a reflection of the lover's chest is mirrored in her cheeks; the blue-hued reddish glow seems ethereal. Thus the composer compares the splendid lustre of Radha's face to three objects,Tarhitsuvarnhchampakpradeeptgaurvigrahe- lightning, a golden lustre and a blossom.


By saying Mukhprabhaparastkotishardendumandale the writer raves, 'The luminescence of her face triumphs over hundreds of gleaming autumnal full moons. The moon waxes and wanes as per the light half and dark half of a lunar month; blemished by darkness and concealed by gathered clouds at times. During the autumnal season its majesty is glorious but hundreds of moon clusters are inferior compared to Radha's luminous face.'


Amazing is Radha's moon like face as it creates new beams of light everyday. The handsome Krishna's blue-hue bathed in its splendid radiance, glows profusely with an irresistible attractiveness. And Radha veiled by her dark cloud, Krishna, turns more lustrous. The sakhis or cowherdesses construing the heights of elation and joy, are ecstatic and attain Krishna's mysterious love from their svamini.The composer begs for the grace of that luminous face which triumphs over hundreds of glorious autumnal moons.


Vichitrachitrasancharcchakorshavlochne is the underlying essence of her grace. Surprisingly wonderful scenarios flit across the pair of young partridge(supposed to live on moonbeams) like eyes and adulating them is the supreme lover who etches the scenes himself. When Krishna's beloved is relaxed and the sakhis arrive by chance, they sight these romantic escapades. Here it seems the composer is narrating the supreme lover's closeness.


Cradling the beams of Krishna's moon like face in her eyes, Shri Radhika is intoxicated. Sometimes the romantic sentiment dances in those darkened eyes and at times intense passion acts as Cupid's arrow, tugging her heart strings; occasionally vexed by his spirited antics, she sulks. When Krishna longs for romantic dalliances...he comes closer and her offense is instinctively transformed to delight.


Radha is fatigued by the inconstant dallying and the lover lets her take respite in his embrace. The beloved opens her eyes, and languishing in passion, dismay is apparent in her gaze. Enflamed again, Krishna peeps into them with a mischievous glance. Soon after, Radha's coral eyes are embarrassed and shut instantly. She can not bear to keep them closed in the proximity of Krishna the moon; not knowing the way out, when shyness takes over.


Varied romantic sentiments reside in these youthful partridge like eyes. They are the abode of dismay, embarrassment, reservation, vexation-delight, frenzied intoxication, passion, delightful love, expertise of romance and other emotions. Krishna, the supreme lover is their relisher and skilled painter simultaneously.


'When will the young partridge-eyed (enamoured by the moon) Shri Radhika, the refuge of ardent love, the repository of exquisite beauty, making hundreds of moons pale in comparison, cradling blue-hued moon Krishna in her eyes, the abode of several sentiments-bestow her grace on us?'

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Shri Radha Kripakataksha Stotra: 3rd shloka


Anangrangmangal prasangbhangarbhruvan,

Suvibhramanssambhraman-drigantbanhpatnaih

Nirantaran vashikritprateet Nandnandane,

Kada karishyaseeh maan kripakatakshabhajnam.


Revelation of the mystical romantic sentiment centered in the nikunjas of Braj, celebrates the fresh romantic dalliances of Shri Radha-Krishna constantly. In the union of the lover and the beloved, Krishna the darling son of Nanda, is the divine energetic source and his beloved Radha is the divine feminine energy, adulated by the cowherdesses.


So the herd of sakhis inaugarated the madanutsava (a festival held in the month of Cait in honour of Kamdev, the god of love) and now it was the turn of Shri Radha-Krishna, the manifestations, paragons and essence of the utsav or celebration of love. We haven't the slightest inkling of how the mischievous son of Nanda played out his part but when Priyaji's took over, his impassioned facial expression was worth watching.


Shri Radha's sidelong glance, gave in to intense passion. Aimed from her amorous eyes' bow string, two arrows which straightaway pierce the heart, mind and soul of the supreme lover, were set free and struck Krishna. Amazingly they didn't wound the soul and gave way to joyous abandon and a throbbing longing, Krishna was hungry to pour over his terrifying rush of love on Radha's eyes. Unique is the battle-field of these enraptured and intoxicated Priya-Priyatam's dallying ground.


These arrows are are not tipped with poison, but rasasikta or laced with passion. Dedicated acharyas have termed Nandnandan's eyes as vishamrit. The eyes of Radha, Krishna's beloved, are also replete with vishamrit on an equal footing. But the difference is, that Krishna is the sole relisher of the nectarine sweetness of Radha's pair of lotus eyes; whereas all other cowherdesses of Vrindavana savour the sweetness cascading from the limpid eyes of Krishna.


Shri Radha ultimately emerges as the supreme object of his passionate love. The supreme lover endearing himself to all his bhaktas, is himself wounded by the long shapely glance of his beloved Shri Radhika, with an ardent longing for more romantic dalliances.


The composer expresses these bhavas as the underlying essence of this eulogy. The vexation caused by Priyatam's innocent pranks urges Shri Radhika to hurt him with her sharp glance. This cyclical movement has no respite and constantly gushes forth. In the fantastic domain of love, when the male lover transforms into the beloved and the female Shri Radha turns into the supreme lover, nobody can figure out.


So Shri Radha jolted the clever lover with her sidelong glance. Soon enough Krishna, who enchants the world was himself enchanted by Radha. Wherein a short distance of two hands seemed like miles, the pining Krishna bound by the string of Shri Radha's eyes...pierced by the arrows of her glance, snuggled in the joyous charm of her embrace.


Shri Radha is stupefied at his impassioned state and casts her easily embarrassed sight on him: Suvibhraman ssambhraman. Truly the simple daughter of Kirti has no inkling of the piercing impact of her glance; enhanced with the mysteries of love and an intoxicating newness because of which Priyatam loses control.


The composer had to clearly depict the darling son of Nanda as nirantar vashikrit or constantly wounded. Every second an enchanting mantra or incantation is prevalent and the lover accepts that Shri Radha controls him with her love; rooted in selfless surrender to the divine and disengaged from attachment to oneself. The romantic sentiment subsumes all other forms of devotion, and Krishna is passionately drawn to her.


Shri Radha is not the sole culprit but the dark-hued hadsome god is equally responsible. Therefore it is necessary for both of them to be absorbed in the terrifying rush of love. In succeeding episodes of loving tenderness, Shri Radha-Krishna wound and nurse each other.


The composer beseeches Shri Shri Radhika who enraptures the supreme lover Nandnandan with her amazing control and wounds him with a fresh attractive glance every moment, to make us the worthy recipients of her loving grace soon enough.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Shri Radha Kripakataksha Stotra: 2nd shloka


Ashok Vrikshvallari vitanmandapstithte

Pravaljvalpallvaprabharunhanghrikomle.

Varabhyasfuratkare prabhootsampadalye,

Kada karishyaseeh maan kripatakshbhajnam.


'When will Shri Radhika resplendent in a nikunja or bower adorned with the ashoka (wish-fulfilling) tree, whose tender youthful holy feet are radiant and gentler than budding blossoms and lotus hands eternally grant the boon of protection; the repository of immense wealth be moved and bestow a fragment of her grace on me.'


A beautiful realm! Just imagine the kunja; a shady garden alcove with sides and roof formed by ashoka trees.The bright red flowers seem to propagate the splendour of Priya-Priyatam's fickle love-sports. And the thicket of creepers adorning the wild sylvan hideaway, adds to its beauty. Sunshine filtering through the webbed foliage seems to be offering saffron and kukum, to appease its perennial quest for union with the divine.


The glow of Shri Radha's lotus feet lights the hearts of devotees with compassionate tenderness, making them the recipients of her loving grace. And the reddish flush enflames the heart of the supreme lover. He ardently longs to romantically dally with Radha for the sake of joy. Soon enough Krishna, the colour of the condensed sky, arrives at the grove of ashoka trees, eagerly desirous to relish the sweet coolness of these feet.


How ravishingly auspicious are the Svamini's feet! Assurance of a protective canopy constantly cascades from her hands, because of which the pair of Krishna's lotus feet are fearless, reposed and absorbed in love.


Prabhootsampadalye are the beloveds of Shri Krishna. Their great good fortune is the impassioned ardent love of Nanda's handsome son, Krishna. The terrifying rush of joy which escalates all the time, is new and fresh and unprecedented. Passionately drawn by this intoxicating wealth, Krishna dallies romantically. As incarnations of love, Shri Radha-Krishna are both repositories of wealth and its relishers.


Shri Billavmangal Maharaj has acclaimed Krishna as the majestic lover of the gopis. But here we are referring to Shri Radha who is the object of Krishna's love, as love requires not only the self, but equally the object of love for its expression. There is no greater symbol to denote the longing of the soul in its quest for the divine than the longing of the nayika for her beloved.


Shri Radha is said to control Krishna with her love, and perfect spiritual life is unattainable without her grace. If she engages us in Krishna's service...we can experience the deeper ecstasies of devotion. When will she make us the recipients of her joyous delight and good fortune?


Since ages...for many life spans...could be anytime...we constantly hope...the compassionate svamini's eternal grace becomes the pivotal concept of our experience, and she makes us her own. Having infinite faith in her lotus feet, we yearn that she blesses us soon enough.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Shri Radha Kripakataksha Stotra: 1st shloka

Shri Radha, the Godhead in Female Form

Muneendra-vrindvandite trilok shokharini,
Prasan vaktrapankaje nikunj bhuvilasini.

Brajendra Bhanunandini Brajendra sunusangate,

Kadaa karishyaseeh maan kripa kataksh bhaajnam.


Shri Radha, the Godhead in female form, is daily propitiated by a handful of chief sages; Narada considered the heart of Shri Krishna and Vyasdevji, Valmikiji and Vashistha. Munnis assume that the Supreme Being is the ultimate reality but topmost ascetics long for Shri Radha, the impassioned form of the supreme lover. They constantly pray to Krishna's special consort who wins Him over with Her power of selfless and sweet love.

There is no greater symbol to denote the longing of the soul in its quest for the divine than the longing of the nayika for her beloved. Eliminating sorrows of the three worlds, Shri Radha represents the highest ideal of religious rapture experienced through madhur rasa, the sentiment of sweet romance.


She instinctively destroys grief; always triumphing because of Her innate divinity. Her joyous lotus face, radiant eyes and beaming smile, make the cool moonbeams and sunshine's brilliance seem pale in comparison. She showers love on every living being without bias. Though the pain is alleviated only after we are engaged in Lord Krishna's service. Shri Radha is acknowledged as the supreme deity, for She controls Krishna with Her love and perfect spiritual life is unattainable without Her grace.


Her delighted lotus face passionately draws the Supreme Lover to the nikunjas. Love requires not only the self but equally the object of love for its expression, therefore Radha's re-configuration becomes necessary. Devotion to Krishna is not an end in itself but that devotion is to be expressed and experienced in the union of the lover and the beloved, Radha and Krishna.


 Black Bee Krishna Hovers Over Shri Radha's Lotus Face

Ardently longing to relish the romantic sentiment, the handsome god arrives at the shrine-like nikunja,which leads to amorous frolics of the lover and His beloved. Likened to the capricious black bee hovering over the lotus face of Shri Radha, Krishna relishes the nectar and loads her with nectarine sweetness.



Shri Radha, the Ascending Soul & Krishna, the Descending God Become One

Shri Radhika, the daughter of Vrasbhanu, is Krishna's special consort. Accompanying Him wherever He ventures; She is the embodiment of that irresistibly attractive feminine principle toward which the masculine power encompassed in the god is drawn.Thus the play between Radha and Krishna, as they move into the mysteries of love becomes a conjunction of the male and female polarities of the cosmos itself, where the descending god and the ascending soul are one.

Reminding Shri Radha of her romantic dalliances, the creator of this composition entreats in the first  shloka,' I beseech the one worshipped by the group of great sages, who alleviates sorrows afflicting the three worlds; daughter of Vrashbhanu who constantly dallyies in the forest groves with joyous abandon, the delightful consort of Brajendra (Krishna) to please engage me in Krishna's service.


Entreating Shri Radha to Shower Her Compassionate Glance on Us

My svamini, I make obeisance to you. When will You shower your grace on me; granting me the boon of your compassionate glance (kripa kataksh) so that I attain a fragment of Your Supreme Lover Krishna's passionate joy, and reach the heights of elation and ecstasy?'