Sri Krishna's prankish disguises in front of Srimati Radharani

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Sri Krishna's prankish disguises in front of Srimati Radharani

 

(an excerpt from the great Sanskrit epic

SRI GOPALA-CHAMPU by Srila Jiva Goswami

 

Purva-champu Chapter 29, verses 86 - 106, entitled:)

 

" SPORTING MISCHIEVOUS PASTIMES

lN SOLITARY PLACES"

 

(86) In the town where sri Krishna lives, there are many Vraja-gopIs who want

to be wherever He is throughout the day. They revel in the sports that ensue

whenever they are in His presence. They are oppressed by their mother-in-laws

and other superiors, but they have no taste at all for ordinary household

duties. They are unconcerned with all forms of ordinary happiness and distress.

It is with the transcendental cowherd girls of this sort that Sri Krishna

sports limitless varieties of His own joyful pastimes on the foot-paths of the

holy abode of Vraja-dhama.

 

(87) When the-elder residents of Gokula left for a tour of the holy places of

pilgrimage, then Sri Krishna took advantage of this opportunitv to enjoy the

happiness of coming before the local cowherd girls in a variety of disguises,

especially in the disguises of various talented female townsfolk.

 

(88) Once, Sri Krishna appeared in the disguise of a scholarly woman, who was

very learned in astrology, yoga, mantra and tantra. Coming near Sri Radha on

the footpath, the following conversation took place:

 

SrI Radha said, "Oh knower of all things! What is the best abode of happiness

in all the three worlds?"

 

Sn Krishna, dressed as the 'learned woman' replied, "The cowherd pastureland of

Sri Krishna."

 

Radha: "What is the foundation of life in the universe?" Krishna: "Singing

songs about Sri Krishna."

 

Radha: "What thing bestows incomparable auspiciousness?" Krishna: "The desire

to obtain SrI Krishna."

 

Radha: "What is most enjoyable?" Krishna: "The beauty of SrI Krishna."

 

Radha: "What is the final end of the universe?" Krishna: "The complete

attainment of SrI Krishna's company."

 

In this way, expertly giving prankish answers to the questions put forth by Srl

Radhika -- may the fraudulent mischief of Lord Sri Krishna protect us all!

 

(89) Another time, putting on the dress of a female messenger, Sn Krishna came

before Sri Radha. Seeing Him in such a disguise, Radha asked Him, "Who are

you?" Krishna: "I am a messenger."

 

Radha: Whose messenger?" Krishna: "I am a follower of your most Beloved."

 

Radha: "What is your special gift?" Krishna: "My special gift is similar to

that of your Beloved."

 

Radha: "What is the proof of that?" Krishna: "Just come to a secluded bower and

look at all my limbs to see for yourself!"

 

.. . Thus hinting in order to fulfill His own desires, the smiling Sri Krishna

propositioned Sri Radhika. She recognized His true identity by hearing His

clever words, and She accepted His proposal by agreeing, "All rights may Your

most desired objective be fulfilled."

 

(90) In this way, the Divine Couple was able to overcome all obstacles to

obtaining each others' company. Otherwise, Sri Radha was unable to tolerate the

intense mental anguish of His separation. Over the course of many other

evenings, Sri Krishna would come again and again, decorated by various clever

disguises. Whenever Sri Radhika would see Him like this, She would converse

with Him.

 

Once, seeing Her Beloved in the disguise of a doctor's wife, She spoke to one

of Her companions, "Dear friend! I allowed this dark-complexioned doctor's wife

to feel My pulse in order to prescribe some medicine for My love-lorn

heartache, but alas! Why is she touching so many of My other limbs as well?!"

 

(91 ) Another time, seeing Sri Krishna decorated with the dress of a female

flutist, Sri Radha addressed Her friend, "My dear girlfriend! This

dark-complexioned girl is very expert in playing the flute. But her home is

very far away, and she has arrived here in the middle of the night. Since she

has very few local friends to stay with, you can just squeeze her in My bed,

and she can sleep with Me tonight."

 

(92) Another time, Srl Radha saw Sri Krishna in the disguise of a female poet.

(Hearing Him recite Her own glories in a poetically embellished discourse), She

told Her companion, "Oh My dear girlfriend! This matchless dark-complexioned

poetess has certainly studied her literary lessons well -- but I will never

understand how she knew so many of My personal secrets!"

 

(93) Another time, Sn Radha sees Sri Krishna in the disguise of a female

artist. She says to Her friend, "Oh My dear girlfriend! This dark-com-plexioned

artist has come from seclusion with a wonderful picture she manifested -- just

look! She has painted a portrait of a girl similar to Me, meeting with a most

desirable boy who has a dark complexion similar to- her own'"

 

(94) Another time, seeing Sri Krishna in the disguise of a female betel-nut

merchant, Sri Radha addressed Her companion, "Oh My dear girlfriend! I tell you

confidentially . . . that dark-complexioned betel-nut merchant who is new in

town must know a very powerful enchanting-mantra. I have never seen anyone like

her before-anywhere'.

 

(95) Another time, seeing Sri Knshna disguised as a female flower garland

weaver, Sri Radha said to Her girlfriend, "Dear companion! This flower-garland

weaver has spread out her wares, but My goodness! How have these dark

Krishna-colored flowers excited My desire to wear them so?!"

 

(96) Another time, Sri Radha beholds Sri Krishna in the dress of a female fruit

merchant and says to Her companion, "Oh my dear girlfriend! This

dark-complexioned fruit merchant has numerous types of fruit on display -but

why is she holding only that round bilva fruit (shaped like My breasts) in her

hand, and why is she staring at Me with that look on her face?!"

 

(97) Another time, seeing Sri Krishna in the disguise of an ordinary village

girl, Sri Radha addresses Her friend, "This dark-complexioned girl doesn't seem

to be very chaste or devoted to her husband, because she wants something I have

in exchange for giving Me her necklace. Even though we're not acquainted with

each other, she still desires to put her own necklace on My breast!"

 

(98) Another time, seeing Sri Krishna dressed up as a female perfume merchant,

Sri Radha says to Her companion, "My dear girlfriend! As long as I keep

purchasing aloe-wood fragrance and sandalwood pulp from this lovely traveling

perfume merchant, I pray that My superiors never say a word in reference to

these substances.. [NOTE: a Sanskrit synonym for aloe-wood is "krishna', and a

synonym for sandalwood is "akrishna". She swishes Her superiors never utter

these words, for that will excite-Her desire as well as endanger the secrecy of

Her meeting Him in this way.]

 

(99) Up to this point, I have described how Sri Krishna (Who is decorated with

the mark of Srivatsa) dresses up in various female disguises. Now I will

describe some of the various prankish speeches of His when He comes before Sri

Radha in such disguises.

 

(100) One day, Sri Krishna dressed up as a femaIe tailor and, coming before Sri

Radha, boldly declared, "I am vow expert in sewing clothes, and I am always

eager to meet others who are also gifted in craftsmanship. I also like to

display my talents before appreciative eyes. Oh cowherd girl! Just lean closer

and look at the details I've sewn into this corset on my breast!-"

 

(101) Another day, Sri Krishna dressed up as a female cloth-dyer, came before

Sri Radha and declared, "I am a dyer of cloth, and my most celebrated name in

this world is Shyaamaa (the feminine form of 'Shyaama'). Whoever wears the

cloth dyed by me will feel the colorful lotus-flower of her heart burst into

full bloom!"

 

(102) Another day, Sri Krishna donned the disguise of a female mirror merchant,

came before Sri Radha and said, "Of course, I desire to sell my mirrors, coral

and pearls -- but listen, oh Vraja-damsel! I ask you ~ would it be possible for

me to barter for those two secret jewel boxes you have hidden there in your

blouse?"

 

(103) Another day, Sri Krishna dressed up as a masseuse, came before SrI Radha

and announced, "I am very expert in the art of massage, and I am very gentle. I

would very much like to serve You in this way. Oh most fortunate one! Even a

mere fraction of the pleasure that arises from my touch easily surpasses that

of achieving the state of supremely divine nirvana! "

 

(104) Another day, Sri Krishna appeared before Sri Radha in the disguise of a

female bangle merchant and said, "Beware! I have heard that Sri Krishna has

donned the disguise of a female bangle merchant, and is thereby exploiting both

the submissive simplicity as well as provoking the assertive sharpness of the

damsels of Vraja. Of course we would certainly never allow such things to go on

in our village!"

 

(105) During the dark lunar fortnight, while the elder residents of Gokula were

finishing their tour of the holy places and were still in Ambika-vana, Sri

Murari was thus busy fulfilling each and every desire of the damsels of Vraja

-- in many sweet and wonderful ways.

 

(106) The petals of Sri Krishna's lotus-like heart unfold systematically in the

form of many groups of cowherd girls. These petals are manifest both internally

(within their hearts) and externally (as their beautiful forms) while He

expands Himself into their unfoldment. But we have no doubt whatsoever in this

matter that Sri Radha is certainly situated in the central whorl of that lotus

of His heart. This is our most strongly held conviction.