PRANKS of Krishna Part IIII

[Govindaram]

<font color="brown"> A MOONBEAM OF SHEER ASTONISHMENT </font color>

<font color="#666666"> by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura. </font color>

 

<font color="blue"> FOURTH PRANK </font color>

 

~~<font color="red"> Meeting in the Disquise of a Female Singer </font color>~~

 

 

One day, Sri Radhika is pouting in such a greatly proud mood that

Sri Hari can do nothing at all to pacify Her. Indeed, He tries

many different methods, but no remedy is able to satisfy Her

unfavorable huff.

 

Finally, He consults with Kunda-lata, His girl cousin. Together,

they dress Him up with the clothing and ornaments of a beautiful

young girl. Then He chit-chats with Kunda-lata in the sweetest

feminine voice which puts to shame that of a cuckoo, and

gradually approaches the home of Jatila.

 

While walking along the secluded path, the universe-enchanting

anklets adorning His divine lotus feet vibrate nicely. When the

smiling deer-eyed Sri Vrsabhanu-nandini spots from afar such an

uncommonly attractive, beautiful young girl accompanying Kunda-

lata, then Her mind becomes most mystified and charmed with

fascination. When all of Her other girlfriends behold the rarely

seen, super-excellent astonishing beauty of the girl, they also

become stunned with sheer amazement.

 

Srimati Radharani then speaks very jubilantly to Kunda-lata,

 

"My dear Kunda-lata! Come, come - tell Me why have you suddenly

arrived at this unusual time of the evening? And who is your

companion, this beautiful young girl? Where has she come from?

And what is her name? Kindly tell Me everything."

 

Kunda-lata: "My dear Radhe! Her name is KALAVALI, the artful

maiden. She heard all about Your divine holy name, Your divine

qualities and Your glorious fame, and she has now come from

Mathura just to have your audience. Her singing and musical

abilities are so highly developed that she can conquer even the

celestial songs of Brhaspati, the celebrated poet. What more can

I say? You should now hear her sing Yourself, and thus become a

witness of her incredible artistry."

 

Sri Radha: "From whom has she learned such knowledge of

singing?"

 

 

 

Kunda-lata: "She has learned singing from Brhaspati, the guru of

Indra, the King of the Demigods."

 

Sri Radha: "How was it that she had the chance to meet him?"

 

Kunda-lata: "Once, Brhaspati came down from the heavenly planets

to attend the sacrificial assembly of Angirasa Muni and other

brahmanas in Mathura. At that time, he stayed in Mathura for one

month, being received and honored with great respect by all the

citizens. During that stay, he once sang a celestial song in the

midst of the sacrificial assembly. My dear friend Radhe! This

most intelligent girl heard that difficult song and instantly

memorized it. The next day, she sang that very same celestial

song in a solitary place, exactly duplicating it note-for-note.

The guru of the immortals Brhaspati heard her repeating that song

and became most astonished. He addressed a Mathura brahmana, 'My

dear brahmana! Who is that girl that is singing my song?

Although she is a resident of the mortal world, she heard a very

difficult celestial song once from my mouth and instantly

memorized it - please bring her before me immediately!'

 

Following the order of Brhaspati, the brahmana went and brought

her before him. Then Brhaspati said to her,

 

'Oh most intelligent girl! You have matchless intelligence, and

your voice conquers the sweetness of the cuckoo's! Therefore, I

will instruct you in the celestial musical science of Gandharva-

vidya. Aho! My goodness! A voice and intelligence such as

yours is never found amongst human beings, nor even amongst the

Kinnara women of the heavenly planets.'

 

"Oh Radhe! Brhaspati thus instructed this girl in the classical

arts of music during the period of his stay for one month in

Mathura. Thereafter, when the time came for his return back to

the heavenly planets, he took her along to the world of the

celestials and then gave her more instructions in Gandharva-vidya

for a whole year. She has returned to Mathura on the surface of

the earth just yesterday, and she has come here to Vraja just now

at dusk. So here she is right before Your very eyes; now You may

examine her abilities and good qualities."

 

Sri Radha: "My dear Kalavali! Please sing us a little song!"

 

Kalavali: "Vrndavanesvari! Which raga shall I sing?"

 

Sri Radha: "Malava raga is proper to be sung at this time of the

evening."

 

Kalavali: "Oh lovely-faced One! Which key and pitch shall I

sing in? Please order me."

 

Sri Radha: "It's not possible to sing the intervals between the

notes due to the natural defects of the throat. It's only

possible to sing the finer in-between notes purely when the

singing is accompanied by the vina. Therefore sing and use the

musical embellishments of tune, range, ornament, tone, melody,

rhythm and lyric. Kindly sing a sweet song."

 

Kalavali: "Oh Radhe! Who in this entire universe knows singing

other than yourself?! Anyway, I will try to sing a simple,

unprepared song. Please listen."

 

Saying this, Kalavali then begins to sing "TA-NA-NA-NA-TA-NA-NA"

in a beautiful voice which simply puts to shame the sweet notes

of the peacocks and bees. When all of Radharani's closest

girlfriends hear Kalavali's song and technique of vocal

embellishment, then torrents of tears begin to gush from their

eyes just like so many flowing rivers; indeed, their teardrops

become just like large pebbles and begin dropping onto the

ground, making the sound 'THANAT THANAT'.

 

As far as Sri Radhika's reaction, the sparkling diamond of Her

heart, which had become extremely hard due to the presence of Her

proud, pouting huff against Sri Krishna, immediately begins to

soften and melt. Feeling this change of heart, Sri Radha

becomes very astonished in great surprise as She exclaims,

 

"Oh Kalavali! Your fascinating song simply belittles the nectar

of the gods! Oh Kalavali! I have become completely enchanted by

your unique qualities! I now cherish a great desire within My

mind - - - I fancy that a girl as talented as you should always

live by My side! By that, then only will My birth become

successful! Oh most qualified Kalavali! Only Sri Nanda-nandana

is capable of understanding the glories of your talent. Dear

girlfriend! If He were to hear your singing, then He would

indeed wear you around His neck, accepting you to be a permanent

necklace!"

 

Kunda-lata then says,

 

"My dear Radhe! Please refrain from speaking such unbefitting

words to the supremely chaste Kalavali; if you really do have

genuine love and affection for her, then just accept her around

Your own neck. Don't consider anything else."

 

Thereafter, Srimati Radharani, still mystified and enchanted with

Kalavali's ecstatic singing and heavenly beauty, gets ready to

offer a jewelled locket worth 100,000 million gold pieces to

Kalavali. Just as She is about to wrap Her arms around

Kalavali's neck in order to fasten the locket, Sri Lalita quickly

whispers into Her ear,

 

"Radhe! Who are You just about to embrace? This is Your wicked

lover - the Rogue has come in the disguise of a woman!"

 

Sri Radha replies,

 

"Dear girlfriend Lalita! Oh smooth-complexioned one! You have

certainly spoken the truth after thoughtful consideration. But

it is not really befitting for Me to offer her simply one small

locket; therefore she will be given ALL of My ornaments."

 

Saying this, Sri Radhika then addresses Sri Rupa Manjari,

 

"Oh Rupa Manjari! In My presence, kindly dress this girl up with

great care and attention, with exotic valuable cloth. Removing

her old corset, please cover her raised breasts with a fresh new

one."

 

Kunda-lata then says,

 

"Oh lovely-faced Radharani! It is not befitting to undress this

young girl right here, in front of everyone. She has come from a

foreign land, and she will naturally feel very shy and

embarrassed. Whatever gifts You want to give to her, just place

them in her hands; then after she returns to her home, she can

put them on without feeling shy. But under no circumstances is

it possible for her to dress up here."

 

Radharani says,

 

"Dear friend Kalavali! Women are never shy or fearful within an

assembly of other women; this is indeed well-known throughout all

the lands. My dear friend! Not following the easy path of

blissful happiness, why are you deliberately placing the thorn-

like obstacle of shy hesitation in the way?"

 

Kalavali says,

 

"Oh Radhe! I will not accept a single necklace, cloth or

ornament from You; oh simple, innocent girl! Am I not the

daughter of a well-to-do singer? If You really are pleased with

me, then just step close and give me a warm hug, and I will be

satisfied with that. I tell You truly that other than a loving

embrace, I have no hankering at all for any type of riches."

 

Sri Radhika says,

 

"My dear friend! Why are you being so difficult? Just put on

these clothes and ornaments nicely, without any complaint. If

you are not pleased to do so, then we will forcibly help you to

put them on. You are a single girl, and we are many girls; thus

you are totally outnumbered. You are now helpless and incapable

of maintaining any opposition to our desire. Just keep this in

mind, oh simple, innocent girl!"

 

Saying this, Srimati Radharani then orders Her girlfriends,

 

"Dear assembly of girlfriends! In the presence of everyone, help

this young girl to change her bodice."

 

Hearing this order, two maidservants immediately step forward and

untie the back and shoulder-knots that held on the bodice worn by

the Kalavali-disguised Krishna. The very second it is loosened,

two very large kadamba flowers suddenly pop out and fall from

Krishna's chest onto the floor.

 

Radharani asks,

 

"Oh Maidservants! What was it that fell down from her bodice?"

 

Sri Rupa Manjari and all the other maidservants simply clap their

hands and begin to giggle and laugh in reply. It was obvious to

everyone that Sri Krishna was holding the two large kadamba

flowers on His chest as false breasts, yet as soon as those

flowers fell onto the floor, He pretends to act just like an

embarrassed girl and shyly covers His moonlike face with His

veil. Due to the sheer buffoonery displayed by this outrageously

mischievous prank of their Beloved, everyone present tries to

cover their faces with their veils in order to check the big

smiles that arise; but still, no one is able to prevent the

forceful exclamations of loud laughing and giggling that results.

 

Sri Radhika then turns Her back on Krishna and staggers over to

Her throne. All Her girlfriends, seeing this ridiculous

condition of Sri Krishna, also turn their backs while laughing

and laughing. Sri Radha begins to laugh even louder, while

trying harder and harder to keep from making any sound. Then Sri

Krishna and Kunda-lata also begin cracking up in hysterical

laughter. Thus, within that very room, the hasya-rasa, or the

transcendental mellow of the most comical joking mood, becomes

obviously present in personified form, and verily attains the

post as the most luscious object of taste for what seems like

hours and hours.

 

Thereafter, the girls begin to speak jokingly, addressing the two

kadamba flowers,

 

"Oh big pair of kadamba flowers! On the surface of this earth,

you two are so fortunate! This is because in spite of your

natural tendency to be freed from any kind of cheating

propensity, you have somehow taken shelter of this Rascal

Cheater, and you have thus been employed as accomplices in this

bogus charade.

 

You are just innocent flowers of a tree - you know absolutely

nothing of cunning, shrewd behavior. Yet this Rascal has kept

you on His chest and thus made you look just like the breasts of

a young woman, thereby manifesting His own shameless

impertinence. And the only result from all this curious mischief

is that by showing us your true innocence in this way, you have

thus caused all of us to become deeply immersed and drowned

within the nectarean ocean of hasya-rasa! ! !

 

Then Lalita says to Kunda-lata,

 

"Oh Kunda-lata! Where has your girlfriend named 'bashfulness'

gone now?"

 

Kunda-lata: "She has fallen down in the water which lies beneath

the Patala-loka planet, becoming drowned along with Kunda-lata,

never to be seen again."

 

Lalita: "If Kunda-lata has been drowned and has died along with

her own girlfriend named 'bashfulness', then who are you?"

 

Kunda-lata: "Oh, I'm just her shadow."

 

Lalita: "Kunda-lata! If you have departed, then how is it that

I am now seeing your shadow?"

 

Kunda-lata: "I have no power to answer this question; may the

Goddess of Speech dance appropriately on all of your tongues to

supply the true answer."

 

Lalita: "Hey Kunda-lata! Your tongue has never had any

connection with false statements due to your having the good

loving association of Brhaspati's disciple Kalavali since your

very childhood. By instructing chaste girls in your own

righteous activities, you thus perform great, noble deeds (on

behalf of Cupid's interests.) This munificent glory of yours is

indeed heard all over Vraja. Even then, all your desires have

still not been fulfilled today, but instead an agonizing pain and

frustration has become evident. Oh most intelligent girlfriend

Kunda-lata! Today you have come from afar to enter the

marketplace of our assembly of girlfriends just to sell the

knowledge you've invented by many different techniques which you

learned from your Guru, but alas! Alas! You were not able to

sell your knowledge in this marketplace at all, but instead you

have somehow become the butt of jokes and laughter! Aho! - you

certainly must have left home today at an inauspicious moment!'

 

Sri Krishna suddenly cuts in,

 

"Hey Lalita! If I'm unable to fulfill my desire of selling my

knowledge in this marketplace, then you have to give me your

bodice; if not, then I will give you mine - this is my wager."

 

Lalita: "Can dried-up flowers ever bud into fresh sprouts? When

the life has left someones's body, can any endeavor on the part

of others bring it back again? Will anyone continue to worship a

proud and arrogant person even after the real truth about his

nature is exposed? Dear Lord! There's absolutely no necessity

of you displaying any more of your mischievous tricks of mind-

boggling ingenuity; now you are free to go."

 

At this, Sri Krishna picks up the two kadamba flowers from the

floor and leaves. Replacing the flowers in his bodice as false

breasts again, he then goes boldly into Jatila's quarters.

Coming before Jatila, he begins rolling on the ground and cries

out loudly, lamenting piteously in a very mournful voice. Seeing

all this, Jatila becomes very touched with sorrow; coming

forward, she asks,

 

"Dear daughter! Who are you? Why are you crying? From where

have you come? What terrible thing has happened? Please wipe

the tears from your sad face and tell me everything."

 

Kalavali: "Oh respectable elder! ALAS! ALAS! ! ! What should

I do now? I am not able to tell you of the misery, the agony!

Oh, I am so unfortunate! Curses on my birth! To hell with my

body! Hundreds and hundreds of curses on my very life! ! !"

 

Exclaiming all this, Kalavali then simply lies there on the

ground before old Jatila and begins to shiver and tremble. Then,

with half-broken syllables she speaks faintly,

 

"Oh respectable elder! I live in the town of King Vrsabhanu at

Barsana, and I am the daughter of Kirtida's sister. Kirtida is

the mother of Srimati Radharani; therefore I am the girl-cousin

of Radharani by birth. Thus, since my very childhood, I have had

a very close loving relationship with Sri Radha. And now, I have

become very anxious due to our being separated for many days.

This is why I have come from my home in Barsana today to see

Radharani here in Yavat.

 

But woe is me! Radharani wouldn't even cast Her glance in my

direction when I came before Her! She would not speak to me at

all, nor embrace me, nor ask about my well-being, nor smile at me

- - - ALAS! ! ! If this Radharani, Who is my one and only

dearest girlfriend since birth, shows this type of cold-hearted

negligence toward me, then I really don't see any necessity of

maintaining my useless life anymore! Oh elder! I am now giving

up my life right before your very eyes! Oh elder! Please,

please think it over carefully and try to determine if I had ever

committed some offense in order to make Sri Radhika behave with

me in such a way! Please make Her swear the truth and tell why

She is so angry with me for no reason at all!"

 

Jatila's heart immediately becomes softened and melts just to

hear such pitiful exclamations and sorrowful lamentations of

Kalavali. The old woman feels very sad and speaks sweetly,

 

"My dear daughter! Don't you worry about anything at all!

Please feel reassured that everything will be all right! Just by

seeing you, I think that there is certainly no offense at all on

your part. I am going this instant to set this matter straight.

I promise you that I'II do whatever it takes to make Radharani

show Her love and affection for you again; indeed, I will quickly

make Her embrace you, I will make Her speak to you, and I will

see to it that both of you sleep together on the same bed

tonight!"

 

Saying this, Jatila takes Kalavali along and goes quickly to the

palatial quarters of her Daughter-in-law Radhika. Seeing all the

girls present before her, Jatila begins to admonish them in a

slightly raised voice,

 

"Lalita! What kind of disgustingly rude behavior has my

Daughter-in-law been engaged in just now? Her girl-cousin has

just come from Her father's village with great eagerness to see

Her - and She has not even spoken a word to show Her loving

affection! Tell me - why are such things going on around here?"

 

Then, addressing Radharani, Jatila begins to rebuke Her,

 

"Oh Radharani! Just see how this poor young girl's dress is

completely soaked with her own tears! When I saw that, my heart

became most disturbed. And when I saw the sad look on her face,

then my heart became completely overwhelmed with great

compassion. Oh She Whose character is supposed to be flawless!

Oh She Who is supposed to be full of all good qualities! Oh my

Daughter-in-law! Please be merciful to this girl and give her a

warm, tight hug! Ask of her well-being, have a little talk

together, and thereby mitigate the sorrowful anguish of her

heart. Behave lovingly toward her as before and thus make her

blissful; do all this right now for my satisfaction."

 

Sri Radha replies,

 

"Oh respectable elder! You can just return to your quarters now

- don't worry, I will do everything just as you have ordered Me.

It is getting late. Now you can happily take rest if you like.

There's no need of you bothering yourself with the petty quarrels

of little girls like us. Little girls are all alike - they are

very small in age and similary small in intelligence. From

moment to moment they fluctuate between joyful playing and

fighting. Therefore it is not befitting for a mature adult such

as yourself to come here and get involved in the childish affairs

of such young girls as us."

 

But Jatila says strongly,

 

"Daughter-in-law! Stand up right now! Don't you dare say

anything more! I gave my word to this girl! Now You step

forward and embrace Your girl-cousin right now! Then You should

eat Your evening meal together and then sleep together on the

same bed! I am Your superior, so You are in no position to

transgress my order!"

 

Sri Radha replies,

 

"Respectable elder! I know that you are very enthusiastic to

instruct Me properly, but just listen to one thing - I assure you

that I am telling the truth. This young girl has spoken some

very harsh words to Kunda-lata; for this reason, I have become

very angry, and I will not even look upon her face. However, if

she now makes up with Kunda-lata and becomes pleased once again,

then only will I become pleased with her. Thus, only under these

circumstances will I carry out the instructions you have given

Me."

 

Kunda-lata objects,

 

"Oh Jatila! Your Daughter-in-law is telling lies - Kalavali

never spoke any harsh words to me! Therefore I am not angry with

her at all."

 

Sri Radha clearly says,

 

"Kunda-lata! Why do you fib right in front of our superior,

Jatila? If you are actually not angry, and are indeed pleased

with Kalavali, then just embrace her right now in front of all of

us."

 

Hearing this, Kunda-lata remains silent. Then the doe-eyed

Radharani speaks with very clever genius,

 

"Oh elder! You think it over and then decide - between Kunda-

lata and I, just see who is telling a lie. Then you can chastise

whovever is at fault. Why is it that these two won't embrace one

another? Look at the obvious facts - if Kunda-lat cannot

tolerate to embrace this young girl Kalavali, then that is a sure

sign of her anger. This can be the only reason - there is no

doubt about it."

 

Jatila says,

 

"My Daughter-in-law certainly speaks the truth! Kunda-lata

obviously shows her displeasure by not forgiving Kalavali. Oh!

Kunda-lata! Girl of cultured behavior! I will certainly do

whatever is required to make you pleased with Kalavali. Although

I am your worshipable superior, still I beg you with folded hands

- please come forward right now and, looking me in the face, just

embrace this girl Kalavali. There's no need for any further

words in this matter at all. Alas! Alas! I swear upon my head!"

 

Hearing this statement, Kunda-lata still remains silent and

motionless. Seeing this, Lalita and all the other girls begin to

prod her,

 

"Hey Kunda-lata! Our superior has given her oath! Don't you

have any fear or respect for that? How does this show your real

intelligence? Come on, come on - - - embrace Kalavali!"

 

Saying this, all the girls plus Jatila combine together and

forcibly make Sri Krishna and Kunda-lata embrace.

 

At that time, all the girls feel an unending explosion of the

joking-mellow within their consciousness. Just as if old Jatila

was not present, they all begin to laugh and laugh

uncontrollably. Trying hard to keep from making any sound, they

all cover their faces with their veils; but still, they all bend

forward and stoop down again and again, becoming absolutely

doubled-up in the greatest bliss.

 

Afterwards, Jatila addresses her own Daughter-in-law,

 

"Sri Radhika! Now You may speak loving words and converse with

Your own cousin - just embrace her without any fuss."

 

Saying this, Jatila suddenly grasps both Sri Krishna's and Sri

Radha's hands and quickly brings them together, locking them

together in a deep, magnificent embrace. Immediately upon this,

Sri Sri Radha-Krishna's tears of pure ecstatic bliss begin to

flow profusely, drip-dripping onto the ground.

 

Seeing this, Jatila says,

 

"You two cousins! So many tears are flowing due to Your mutual

embrace - just use the corners of Your cloth to wipe away each

others' faces. Now You can simply make each other happy. Take

some nice food together, and then You may pass the night lovingly

on the same bed. I am going now to take rest myself."

 

Saying this, the old woman Jatila leaves for her own quarters to

retire for the night. As soon as she leaves, Sri Krishna

addresses all the girlfriends with the greatest proud arrogance,

 

"Bho, bho girls! Now the knowledge I've brought has become most

condemned! By finally selling it, I have now obtained the

perfect fulfillment of all My desires! Namely, all of you have

now been conquered by Me!"

 

Lalita replies,

 

"Oh Paramount of Relishers! You truly, truly have attained Your

desire by enjoying Your own girl-cousin Kunda-lata; thus You have

indeed won the greatest victory in the end after all. And after

You have thus made a mockery of the rules of decent social

behavior, I now give You full encouragement - whatever

unfulfilled desire that is still leftover in the mind of the

half-enjoyed Kunda-lata, then I beg You to kindly make that

complete!"

 

Kunda-lata angrily says,

 

"Lalita! Do you think that a pure-minded brother cannot embrace

his own sister? Or that a pure-minded father cannot embrace his

own daughter? You are all obviously pierced from head to toe by

the arrows of Cupid, and you are thus engrossed in such amorous

pangs! For that reason, you see everyone else in the world to be

just like yourselves! ! !

 

Saying this in great rage, Kunda-lata then storms out of the room

in great haste. Seeing this, each and every girl also rushes out

to try and pacify her. This leaves Sri Sri Radha-Krishna alone

and unprotected in the room; indeed, only the Flower Archer Cupid

remained, just to give exclusive protection to the Youthful

Couple. . .

 

 

* * * * * * * *

 

 

sa-bhru-vibhanga kutilasya saroja-sidhu

madyan madhu-vrata-vilasa-susaurabhani

 

samprapya jala-vivaresu jughurnur eva

 

presthalayah prati-padam pramadormi-punjaih

 

 

Thus all the dear girlfriends situated outside catch a whiff of

the fragrance of divine sports produced by the mad Honeybee as He

wildly drinks the nectarine lotus face of the crooked eyebrow-

decorated Radharani. . . fixing their eyes by the holes of the

latticed window, all of those girls are dashed to and fro,

floating over the repeatedly billowing ocean-waves of sheerly

blissful insanity. . . while their consciousness reels excitedly

from every moment - to - moment. . . . . . . .

* * * * * * * *

 

THUS ENDS THE FOURTH PRANK OF "A MOONBEAM OF SHEER ASTONISHMENT"

"(Meeting in the Disguise of a Female Singer)

 

by SRILA VISVANATHA CAKRAVARTI THAKURA