Day 237: Gaurābda 533, Caitra Māsa, Tritiya, 07 May 2019 – Tuesday

You should first try to come in niṣṭhā. Do you know what is niṣṭhā? At first there is śraddhā, and when śraddhā is matured it becomes niṣṭhā. Niṣṭhā is a good, high thing. Then the mind is fixed. There is no doubt in any siddhānta—no doubt. At that time māyā will not attract. At that time we will chant harināma, yet with no taste, but we see that there is no remedy without taking the chanting of Hari’s name. So, even if there is no taste at the time of niṣṭhā, we know that there is nothing which will take us to Kṛṣṇa without His name.

Srila Gurudeva – May 07, 1996 Netherlands

“Oh, Let Us Go! What Sweet Pastimes Are Taking Place!”

Meeting each other, Rupa Manjari took Rati Manjari in her arms and said, “Oh, let us go! What sweet pastimes of Krsna are taking place!” Rati Manjari quickly proceeded to that place with Rupa Manjari, who then encouraged her, “Look at this!”. The place, or gap in the foliage outside the kunja, from where all the pastimes can be seen in the kunja, is called gavaksa. Those outside can see in, but the persons in the kunja cannot see them—otherwise the lila would end. In order for Their pastimes to continue freely and not be hampered, They must not allow Themselves to be seen.

When Their pastimes were over, Srimati Radhika called for Rupa and Rati Manjari. Rati Manjari has the seva of fanning with a camara, and therefore Srimati Radhika said, “We are tired. Where is your camara? Please fan Us with the camara and massage Our feet. We are very tired.”

In this second sloka, Rati Manjari is describing that scene. Sthala-kamalini yuktam garvita kanane ‘smin. Kanane ‘smin means ‘in this very kanana.’ It may be at Radha Kunda, it may be at Sanket, it may be at Seva Kunja, or it may be in any kunja of Govardhana. She tells Radhika, “You are so garvita, proud. Pranayasi vara-hasyam. You are kamalini, like a lotus flower, and it seems as though that lotus flower is laughing. You are laughing. Puspa guccha-chalena. It seems that hundreds and thousands of lotus flowers are in one big cluster.” This is called Sahasra-dala-kamala. The flowers are not separate, and yet they are separate. “All the lotuses are blossoming, and a wonderful fragrance emanates from them. Still, passing over all the other lotus flowers, a bumble bee is searching for this particular cluster of lotus blossoms.”

The Krsna Bee is Searching, Waiting to Serve Srimati

Why is Rati Manjari speaking like this? While Rupa Manjari and Rati Manjari were coming to see this pastime, Padma and Saibya were waiting for Krsna at Gauri Kunda. They were trying to discover a way to arrange a meeting for Candravali. Candravali was in her kunja, and they were at the door of the kunja. Krsna was coming from home, and He was on His way to meet Srimati Radhika at Sanket Kunja where She was waiting for Him. Rati Manjari and Rupa Manjari had gone to bring Krsna to Srimati Radhika. Although they were at a distance, they were accompanying Him. On the way, Padma and Saibya told Krsna, “Oh, Your sakhi Candravali is here waiting for You.” Krsna replied, “I am coming to her at once. I have just heard that there is a demon, Aghasura, or a demon like Aghasura, nearby, and he is causing a great disturbance. I must go there now, but I will not delay. I am coming. Wait here for Me!” Saying this, Krsna left to go to Srimati Radhika, and Rupa Manjari and Rati Manjari followed behind.

Upon meeting Srimati Radhika, Rupa and Rati Manjari now speak this verse. Api nikhila-latas tah saurabhaktah sa muncan. “Leaving all the other creepers and flowers that are so exquisite, sweet, and fragrant, that black bee has come to You! How lucky you are that Krsna has left all these beautiful young gopis and come to You.” Mrgayati tava margam krsna bhrngo tad adya. “That bee is waiting for this flower.” In literature this is called anuprasa alankara, a reverse analogy. Usually flowers wait for bees, because bees can fly and flowers cannot, but here the bee is waiting for the flower. Krsna has a wish and Radhika also has a wish, but the wish of Krsna is stronger. He wants Srimati Radhika more than She wants Him. The Krsna bee is searching, waiting to serve Srimati Radhika.

The manjaris are only pleased when Krsna serves Radha, when Krsna weeps for Radha, or when Krsna tries for and searches for Radha. At that time they become so delighted. If Srimati Radhika is weeping and searching for Krsna, the manjaris become very distressed. Here the bee is searching, and they are delighted. They say to Srimatiji, “We are so lucky, and You are also so lucky, because Krsna is waiting to render service to You. Having left all the creepers, flowers, and all else, He has come to You and is flying around Your lotus feet.”

In this way, Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami has prayed primarily to his aradhyadevi, Srimati Radhika, and secondly to his Gurudeva. In this meaning there will be no confusion.


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