Chapter Twenty-five Rāsa-krīḍā The Rāsa-daṣce Pastime

Thinking in this way, Śiva and Asuri went to the circle of Vraja to see Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Near the Yamunā they went to a splendid transcendental place filled with splendid groves of trees, vines, and archways.

Many very powerful, stick-wielding women of Goloka guarded the entrance. Blocking the path, they and forbade them to enter.

The two of them said, "Yearning to see Lord Kṛṣṇa, we have come here". O tiger of kings, as they blocked the path, the entrance-guards spoke to them.

The entrance guards said: There are many millions of millions of us everywhere in Vṛndāvana. Appointed by Lord Kṛṣṇa, we eternally guard the rāsa dance.

In this secluded rāsa-dance circle Kṛṣṇa is the only male. Except for Him there are only gopīs here.

O sages, if you wish to see Lord Kṛṣṇa, then please bath in the Māna-sarovara lake. In that way you will become gopīs, and then you may enter.

Bathing in Māna-sarovara, and at once becoming gopīs, Lord Siva and Asuri Muni went to the circle of the rāsa dance.

In a beautiful place paved with gold and rubies, shaded by kadamba trees and flowering mādhavī vines, . . .

. . . filled with all beauty, splendid with spring moonlight, glorious with arches and jewel stairways leading to the Yamunā, . . .

. . . filled with cooing peacocks, swans, datyūhas, and cuckoos, fanned by the Yamunā's breezes, beautiful with newly-blossoming trees, . . .

. . . filled with meeting houses that had courtyards with rows of pillars, splendid fluttering flags, and golden domes, . . .

. . . filled with flower-palaces of red and white blossoms, the buzzing of bees, and sweet sounds of musical instruments, . . .

. . . and fragrant with pure and cooling breezes carrying the scent of thousand-petal lotuses, . . .

strī-ratnair āvṛtaṁ śaśvad rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyaṁ śyāmasundara-vigraham vaṁśī-dharaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ vetra-pāṇiṁ manoharam śrīvatsāṅkaṁ kaustubhinaṁ vana-mālā-virājitam kvaṇan-nūpura-maṣjīra- kāṣcī-keyūra-bhūṣitam hāra-kaṅkana-bālārka- kuṇḍala-dvaya-maṇḍitam koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa- maulinaṁ nanda-nandanam dāna-dakṣaiḥ kaṭākṣaiś ca harantaṁ yoṣitāṁ manaḥ dūrād apaśyataṁ rājann āsurīśau kṛtāṣjalī gopī-janānāṁ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ nṛpa-sattama natvā śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjaṁ ūcatur harṣa-vihvalau tasmin—in that; nikuṣje—grove; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; koṭi-candra-prakāśayā—with the light of ten millions moons; padminyā—like a lotus; haṁsa-gāminyā—graceful as a swan; rādhayā—with Rādhā; samalaṅkṛtam—decorated; strī-ratnaiḥ—with jewellike women; āvṛtam—surrounded; śaśvat—eternally; rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam—in the midde of the rasa dance; koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyam—more handsome than ten million kāmadevas; śyāmasundara-vigraham—whose form is dark and handsome; vaṁśī-dharam—holding a flute; pīta-paṭam—wearing yeellow garments; vetra-pāṇim—a stick in His hand; manoharam—charming to the heart; śrīvatsāṅkam—marked with Śrīvatsa; kaustubhinam—wearing the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā-virājitam—splendid with a forest garland; kvaṇan—tinkling; nūpura-ma 24jīra—anklets; kāṣcī—belts; keyūra—armlet; bhūṣitam—decorated; hāra—necklace; kaṅkana—bracelets; bālārka—the rising sun; kuṇḍala-dvaya—with earrings; maṇḍitam—decorated; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa—splendid as ten million moons; maulinam—wearing a crown; nanda-nandanam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja; dāna-dakṣaiḥ—generous; kaṭākṣaiḥ—with sidelong glances; ca—and; harantam—stealing; yoṣitām—of the women; manaḥ—the hearts; dūrāt—from far away; apaśyatam—seeing; rājann—O king; āsurīśau—Asuri and Śiva; kṛtā 24jalī—with folded hands; gopī-janānām—of the gopīs; sarveṣām—all; paśyatam—seeing; nṛpa-sattama—O best of kings; natvā—bowing; śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet; ūcatuḥ—spoke; harṣa-vihvalau—filled with joy. . . . bowing down to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who in that forest grove was splendid as as ten million moons, who was decorated by lotuslike, swan-graceful Śrī Rādhā's company, who, surrounded by jewellike women, eternally stayed the middle of the rāsa-dance circle, who was handsome as ten million Kāmadevas, whose form was dark and handsome, who was dressed in yellow garments, who held a flute and stick in His hand, who bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, who was decorated with the Kaustubha gem, who was splendid with a forest garland, who was decorated with tinkling anklets, belt, and armlets, and with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings splendid as two rising suns, who wore a crown splendid as ten million suns, who with generous sidelong glances stole the gopīs' hearts, and whom the gopīs gazed at from afar, Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni, now overcome with happiness, spoke.

strī-ratnair āvṛtaṁ śaśvad rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyaṁ śyāmasundara-vigraham vaṁśī-dharaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ vetra-pāṇiṁ manoharam śrīvatsāṅkaṁ kaustubhinaṁ vana-mālā-virājitam kvaṇan-nūpura-maṣjīra- kāṣcī-keyūra-bhūṣitam hāra-kaṅkana-bālārka- kuṇḍala-dvaya-maṇḍitam koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa- maulinaṁ nanda-nandanam dāna-dakṣaiḥ kaṭākṣaiś ca harantaṁ yoṣitāṁ manaḥ dūrād apaśyataṁ rājann āsurīśau kṛtāṣjalī gopī-janānāṁ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ nṛpa-sattama natvā śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjaṁ ūcatur harṣa-vihvalau tasmin—in that; nikuṣje—grove; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; koṭi-candra-prakāśayā—with the light of ten millions moons; padminyā—like a lotus; haṁsa-gāminyā—graceful as a swan; rādhayā—with Rādhā; samalaṅkṛtam—decorated; strī-ratnaiḥ—with jewellike women; āvṛtam—surrounded; śaśvat—eternally; rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam—in the midde of the rasa dance; koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyam—more handsome than ten million kāmadevas; śyāmasundara-vigraham—whose form is dark and handsome; vaṁśī-dharam—holding a flute; pīta-paṭam—wearing yeellow garments; vetra-pāṇim—a stick in His hand; manoharam—charming to the heart; śrīvatsāṅkam—marked with Śrīvatsa; kaustubhinam—wearing the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā-virājitam—splendid with a forest garland; kvaṇan—tinkling; nūpura-ma 24jīra—anklets; kāṣcī—belts; keyūra—armlet; bhūṣitam—decorated; hāra—necklace; kaṅkana—bracelets; bālārka—the rising sun; kuṇḍala-dvaya—with earrings; maṇḍitam—decorated; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa—splendid as ten million moons; maulinam—wearing a crown; nanda-nandanam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja; dāna-dakṣaiḥ—generous; kaṭākṣaiḥ—with sidelong glances; ca—and; harantam—stealing; yoṣitām—of the women; manaḥ—the hearts; dūrāt—from far away; apaśyatam—seeing; rājann—O king; āsurīśau—Asuri and Śiva; kṛtā 24jalī—with folded hands; gopī-janānām—of the gopīs; sarveṣām—all; paśyatam—seeing; nṛpa-sattama—O best of kings; natvā—bowing; śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet; ūcatuḥ—spoke; harṣa-vihvalau—filled with joy. . . . bowing down to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who in that forest grove was splendid as as ten million moons, who was decorated by lotuslike, swan-graceful Śrī Rādhā's company, who, surrounded by jewellike women, eternally stayed the middle of the rāsa-dance circle, who was handsome as ten million Kāmadevas, whose form was dark and handsome, who was dressed in yellow garments, who held a flute and stick in His hand, who bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, who was decorated with the Kaustubha gem, who was splendid with a forest garland, who was decorated with tinkling anklets, belt, and armlets, and with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings splendid as two rising suns, who wore a crown splendid as ten million suns, who with generous sidelong glances stole the gopīs' hearts, and whom the gopīs gazed at from afar, Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni, now overcome with happiness, spoke.

strī-ratnair āvṛtaṁ śaśvad rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyaṁ śyāmasundara-vigraham vaṁśī-dharaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ vetra-pāṇiṁ manoharam śrīvatsāṅkaṁ kaustubhinaṁ vana-mālā-virājitam kvaṇan-nūpura-maṣjīra- kāṣcī-keyūra-bhūṣitam hāra-kaṅkana-bālārka- kuṇḍala-dvaya-maṇḍitam koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa- maulinaṁ nanda-nandanam dāna-dakṣaiḥ kaṭākṣaiś ca harantaṁ yoṣitāṁ manaḥ dūrād apaśyataṁ rājann āsurīśau kṛtāṣjalī gopī-janānāṁ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ nṛpa-sattama natvā śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjaṁ ūcatur harṣa-vihvalau tasmin—in that; nikuṣje—grove; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; koṭi-candra-prakāśayā—with the light of ten millions moons; padminyā—like a lotus; haṁsa-gāminyā—graceful as a swan; rādhayā—with Rādhā; samalaṅkṛtam—decorated; strī-ratnaiḥ—with jewellike women; āvṛtam—surrounded; śaśvat—eternally; rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam—in the midde of the rasa dance; koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyam—more handsome than ten million kāmadevas; śyāmasundara-vigraham—whose form is dark and handsome; vaṁśī-dharam—holding a flute; pīta-paṭam—wearing yeellow garments; vetra-pāṇim—a stick in His hand; manoharam—charming to the heart; śrīvatsāṅkam—marked with Śrīvatsa; kaustubhinam—wearing the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā-virājitam—splendid with a forest garland; kvaṇan—tinkling; nūpura-ma 24jīra—anklets; kāṣcī—belts; keyūra—armlet; bhūṣitam—decorated; hāra—necklace; kaṅkana—bracelets; bālārka—the rising sun; kuṇḍala-dvaya—with earrings; maṇḍitam—decorated; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa—splendid as ten million moons; maulinam—wearing a crown; nanda-nandanam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja; dāna-dakṣaiḥ—generous; kaṭākṣaiḥ—with sidelong glances; ca—and; harantam—stealing; yoṣitām—of the women; manaḥ—the hearts; dūrāt—from far away; apaśyatam—seeing; rājann—O king; āsurīśau—Asuri and Śiva; kṛtā 24jalī—with folded hands; gopī-janānām—of the gopīs; sarveṣām—all; paśyatam—seeing; nṛpa-sattama—O best of kings; natvā—bowing; śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet; ūcatuḥ—spoke; harṣa-vihvalau—filled with joy. . . . bowing down to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who in that forest grove was splendid as as ten million moons, who was decorated by lotuslike, swan-graceful Śrī Rādhā's company, who, surrounded by jewellike women, eternally stayed the middle of the rāsa-dance circle, who was handsome as ten million Kāmadevas, whose form was dark and handsome, who was dressed in yellow garments, who held a flute and stick in His hand, who bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, who was decorated with the Kaustubha gem, who was splendid with a forest garland, who was decorated with tinkling anklets, belt, and armlets, and with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings splendid as two rising suns, who wore a crown splendid as ten million suns, who with generous sidelong glances stole the gopīs' hearts, and whom the gopīs gazed at from afar, Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni, now overcome with happiness, spoke.

strī-ratnair āvṛtaṁ śaśvad rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyaṁ śyāmasundara-vigraham vaṁśī-dharaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ vetra-pāṇiṁ manoharam śrīvatsāṅkaṁ kaustubhinaṁ vana-mālā-virājitam kvaṇan-nūpura-maṣjīra- kāṣcī-keyūra-bhūṣitam hāra-kaṅkana-bālārka- kuṇḍala-dvaya-maṇḍitam koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa- maulinaṁ nanda-nandanam dāna-dakṣaiḥ kaṭākṣaiś ca harantaṁ yoṣitāṁ manaḥ dūrād apaśyataṁ rājann āsurīśau kṛtāṣjalī gopī-janānāṁ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ nṛpa-sattama natvā śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjaṁ ūcatur harṣa-vihvalau tasmin—in that; nikuṣje—grove; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; koṭi-candra-prakāśayā—with the light of ten millions moons; padminyā—like a lotus; haṁsa-gāminyā—graceful as a swan; rādhayā—with Rādhā; samalaṅkṛtam—decorated; strī-ratnaiḥ—with jewellike women; āvṛtam—surrounded; śaśvat—eternally; rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam—in the midde of the rasa dance; koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyam—more handsome than ten million kāmadevas; śyāmasundara-vigraham—whose form is dark and handsome; vaṁśī-dharam—holding a flute; pīta-paṭam—wearing yeellow garments; vetra-pāṇim—a stick in His hand; manoharam—charming to the heart; śrīvatsāṅkam—marked with Śrīvatsa; kaustubhinam—wearing the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā-virājitam—splendid with a forest garland; kvaṇan—tinkling; nūpura-ma 24jīra—anklets; kāṣcī—belts; keyūra—armlet; bhūṣitam—decorated; hāra—necklace; kaṅkana—bracelets; bālārka—the rising sun; kuṇḍala-dvaya—with earrings; maṇḍitam—decorated; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa—splendid as ten million moons; maulinam—wearing a crown; nanda-nandanam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja; dāna-dakṣaiḥ—generous; kaṭākṣaiḥ—with sidelong glances; ca—and; harantam—stealing; yoṣitām—of the women; manaḥ—the hearts; dūrāt—from far away; apaśyatam—seeing; rājann—O king; āsurīśau—Asuri and Śiva; kṛtā 24jalī—with folded hands; gopī-janānām—of the gopīs; sarveṣām—all; paśyatam—seeing; nṛpa-sattama—O best of kings; natvā—bowing; śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet; ūcatuḥ—spoke; harṣa-vihvalau—filled with joy. . . . bowing down to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who in that forest grove was splendid as as ten million moons, who was decorated by lotuslike, swan-graceful Śrī Rādhā's company, who, surrounded by jewellike women, eternally stayed the middle of the rāsa-dance circle, who was handsome as ten million Kāmadevas, whose form was dark and handsome, who was dressed in yellow garments, who held a flute and stick in His hand, who bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, who was decorated with the Kaustubha gem, who was splendid with a forest garland, who was decorated with tinkling anklets, belt, and armlets, and with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings splendid as two rising suns, who wore a crown splendid as ten million suns, who with generous sidelong glances stole the gopīs' hearts, and whom the gopīs gazed at from afar, Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni, now overcome with happiness, spoke.

strī-ratnair āvṛtaṁ śaśvad rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyaṁ śyāmasundara-vigraham vaṁśī-dharaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ vetra-pāṇiṁ manoharam śrīvatsāṅkaṁ kaustubhinaṁ vana-mālā-virājitam kvaṇan-nūpura-maṣjīra- kāṣcī-keyūra-bhūṣitam hāra-kaṅkana-bālārka- kuṇḍala-dvaya-maṇḍitam koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa- maulinaṁ nanda-nandanam dāna-dakṣaiḥ kaṭākṣaiś ca harantaṁ yoṣitāṁ manaḥ dūrād apaśyataṁ rājann āsurīśau kṛtāṣjalī gopī-janānāṁ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ nṛpa-sattama natvā śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjaṁ ūcatur harṣa-vihvalau tasmin—in that; nikuṣje—grove; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; koṭi-candra-prakāśayā—with the light of ten millions moons; padminyā—like a lotus; haṁsa-gāminyā—graceful as a swan; rādhayā—with Rādhā; samalaṅkṛtam—decorated; strī-ratnaiḥ—with jewellike women; āvṛtam—surrounded; śaśvat—eternally; rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam—in the midde of the rasa dance; koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyam—more handsome than ten million kāmadevas; śyāmasundara-vigraham—whose form is dark and handsome; vaṁśī-dharam—holding a flute; pīta-paṭam—wearing yeellow garments; vetra-pāṇim—a stick in His hand; manoharam—charming to the heart; śrīvatsāṅkam—marked with Śrīvatsa; kaustubhinam—wearing the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā-virājitam—splendid with a forest garland; kvaṇan—tinkling; nūpura-ma 24jīra—anklets; kāṣcī—belts; keyūra—armlet; bhūṣitam—decorated; hāra—necklace; kaṅkana—bracelets; bālārka—the rising sun; kuṇḍala-dvaya—with earrings; maṇḍitam—decorated; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa—splendid as ten million moons; maulinam—wearing a crown; nanda-nandanam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja; dāna-dakṣaiḥ—generous; kaṭākṣaiḥ—with sidelong glances; ca—and; harantam—stealing; yoṣitām—of the women; manaḥ—the hearts; dūrāt—from far away; apaśyatam—seeing; rājann—O king; āsurīśau—Asuri and Śiva; kṛtā 24jalī—with folded hands; gopī-janānām—of the gopīs; sarveṣām—all; paśyatam—seeing; nṛpa-sattama—O best of kings; natvā—bowing; śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet; ūcatuḥ—spoke; harṣa-vihvalau—filled with joy. . . . bowing down to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who in that forest grove was splendid as as ten million moons, who was decorated by lotuslike, swan-graceful Śrī Rādhā's company, who, surrounded by jewellike women, eternally stayed the middle of the rāsa-dance circle, who was handsome as ten million Kāmadevas, whose form was dark and handsome, who was dressed in yellow garments, who held a flute and stick in His hand, who bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, who was decorated with the Kaustubha gem, who was splendid with a forest garland, who was decorated with tinkling anklets, belt, and armlets, and with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings splendid as two rising suns, who wore a crown splendid as ten million suns, who with generous sidelong glances stole the gopīs' hearts, and whom the gopīs gazed at from afar, Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni, now overcome with happiness, spoke.

strī-ratnair āvṛtaṁ śaśvad rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyaṁ śyāmasundara-vigraham vaṁśī-dharaṁ pīta-paṭaṁ vetra-pāṇiṁ manoharam śrīvatsāṅkaṁ kaustubhinaṁ vana-mālā-virājitam kvaṇan-nūpura-maṣjīra- kāṣcī-keyūra-bhūṣitam hāra-kaṅkana-bālārka- kuṇḍala-dvaya-maṇḍitam koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa- maulinaṁ nanda-nandanam dāna-dakṣaiḥ kaṭākṣaiś ca harantaṁ yoṣitāṁ manaḥ dūrād apaśyataṁ rājann āsurīśau kṛtāṣjalī gopī-janānāṁ sarveṣāṁ paśyatāṁ nṛpa-sattama natvā śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjaṁ ūcatur harṣa-vihvalau tasmin—in that; nikuṣje—grove; śrī-kṛṣṇam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa; koṭi-candra-prakāśayā—with the light of ten millions moons; padminyā—like a lotus; haṁsa-gāminyā—graceful as a swan; rādhayā—with Rādhā; samalaṅkṛtam—decorated; strī-ratnaiḥ—with jewellike women; āvṛtam—surrounded; śaśvat—eternally; rāsa-maṇḍala-madhya-gam—in the midde of the rasa dance; koṭi-manmatha-lāvaṇyam—more handsome than ten million kāmadevas; śyāmasundara-vigraham—whose form is dark and handsome; vaṁśī-dharam—holding a flute; pīta-paṭam—wearing yeellow garments; vetra-pāṇim—a stick in His hand; manoharam—charming to the heart; śrīvatsāṅkam—marked with Śrīvatsa; kaustubhinam—wearing the Kaustubha gem; vana-mālā-virājitam—splendid with a forest garland; kvaṇan—tinkling; nūpura-ma 24jīra—anklets; kāṣcī—belts; keyūra—armlet; bhūṣitam—decorated; hāra—necklace; kaṅkana—bracelets; bālārka—the rising sun; kuṇḍala-dvaya—with earrings; maṇḍitam—decorated; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśa—splendid as ten million moons; maulinam—wearing a crown; nanda-nandanam—Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the son of Nanda Mahārāja; dāna-dakṣaiḥ—generous; kaṭākṣaiḥ—with sidelong glances; ca—and; harantam—stealing; yoṣitām—of the women; manaḥ—the hearts; dūrāt—from far away; apaśyatam—seeing; rājann—O king; āsurīśau—Asuri and Śiva; kṛtā 24jalī—with folded hands; gopī-janānām—of the gopīs; sarveṣām—all; paśyatam—seeing; nṛpa-sattama—O best of kings; natvā—bowing; śrī-kṛṣṇa-pādābjam—to Śrī Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet; ūcatuḥ—spoke; harṣa-vihvalau—filled with joy. . . . bowing down to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who in that forest grove was splendid as as ten million moons, who was decorated by lotuslike, swan-graceful Śrī Rādhā's company, who, surrounded by jewellike women, eternally stayed the middle of the rāsa-dance circle, who was handsome as ten million Kāmadevas, whose form was dark and handsome, who was dressed in yellow garments, who held a flute and stick in His hand, who bore the mark of Śrīvatsa, who was decorated with the Kaustubha gem, who was splendid with a forest garland, who was decorated with tinkling anklets, belt, and armlets, and with necklaces, bracelets, and earrings splendid as two rising suns, who wore a crown splendid as ten million suns, who with generous sidelong glances stole the gopīs' hearts, and whom the gopīs gazed at from afar, Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni, now overcome with happiness, spoke.

The two of them said: O Kṛṣṇa, O Kṛṣṇa, O great yogī, O master of the demigods, O Lord of the universes, O lotus-eyed one, O Govinda, O Lord who carries a flag with the emblem of Garuḍa, obeisances to You!

O savior from miseries, O Lord of the universes, O lotus-naveled one, O Lord who took three steps, O Lord bound at the waist with a rope, O master of the senses, O son of King Vasudeva, obeisances to You!

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, leaving all Your transcendental abodes and making them devoid of Your presence, You have now come to Nanda's home to remove the earth's great burden and to bring auspiciousness to Your devotees.

You are the original and perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, glorious with incarnations that display a part, a part of a part, or a part of a part of a part of Your power. With Your many empowered inacarnations You maintain the universe. With the sweet rāsa dance You decorate the forest of Vṛndāvana.

O master of Goloka, O master of the king of mountains. O supreme master, O master of Vṛndāvana, O enjoyer of eternal pastimes, O master of Rādhā, O master whose glories are sung by the girls of Vraja, O master of Gokula, O Govinda, all glories to You!

You are decorated with beautiful flowers taken from Vṛndāvana's vines. You are the ornament Śrī Rādhā wears on Her neck and over Her heart. You are the master of the rāsa-dance circle. You are the master of the circle of Vraja. You are the protector of the circle of the universes.

Śrī Nārada said: Pleased and gently smiling as He stood by Śrī Rādhā's side, with words like thunder Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke to the sage.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Renouncing everything, the two of you performed austerities for sixty-thousand years in order to see Me.

You do not crave material wealth, you are peaceful, you do not think anyone your enemy, and you are my friends. Therefore, please choose a benediction. Choose whatever your hearts desire.

Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni said: O Lord who resides in Vṛndāvana, we eternally offer our obeisances to Your lotus feet. Nothing other than Your lotus feet gives us any happiness. O Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa, we offer our respectful obeisances to You!

nikuṣja-pārśve puline vaṁśīvaṭa-samīpataḥ śivo 'pi cāsuri-munir nityaṁ vāsaṁ cakāra ha śrī-nārada uvāca—Śrī Nārada said; tathāstu—so be it; ca—and; uktvā—saying; bhagavān—the Lord; vṛndāraṇye—in Vṛndāvana; manohare—beautiful; kālindī-nikaṭe—near the Yamunā; rājan—O king; rāsa-maṇḍala-maṇḍite—decorated by the circle of the rasa dance; nikuṣja-pārśve—in the side of the forest; puline—on the shore; vaṁśīvaṭa-samīpataḥ—near Vamsivata; śivaḥ—Lord Śiva; api—and; ca—and; āsuri-muniḥ—Asuri Muni; nityam—eternally; vāsam—residence; cakāra—did; ha—indeed. The Lord then said, "So be it." From that moment Lord Śiva and Asuri Muni made their residence there, at Vaṁśīvaṭa, where the forest grove by the Yamunā's shore is decorated with the circle of the rāsa dance.

Then Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa enjoyed a rāsa dance with the gopīs in Padmākara forest, which was filled with buzzing bees and fragrant flower pollen.

O king of Mithilā, although in truth it lasted for six months, the night Lord Kṛṣṇa enjoyed the rāsa dance with the gopīs seemed to Them only a single moment of great happiness when it was over.

At sunrise all the gopīs, their desires fulfilled, returned to their homes.

Lord Kṛṣṇa went to Nanda's palace and Śrī Rādhā hurried to King Vṛṣabhānu's palace.

trivargya-daṁ janānāṁ tu mumukṣūṇāṁ su-mukti-dam mayā tavāgre kathitaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi evam—thus; śrī-kṛṣṇacandrasya—of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra; rāsākhyānam—named rasa; manoharam—beautiful; sarva-pāpa—all sins; haram—removing; puṇyam—pure; kāma-dam—fulfilling desires; maṅgalāyanam—auspicious; trivargya-dam—granting the three goals of life; janānām—of the people; tu—indeed; mumukṣūṇām—of they who desire liberation; su-mukti-dam—giving liberation; mayā—by me; tava—of you; agre—in the presence; kathitam—spoken; kim—what?; bhūyaḥ—more; śrotum—to hear; icchasi—you wish. Thus I have described to You Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra's beautiful and sacred rāsa dance, which removes all sins, fulfills all desires, brings auspiciousness, gives to the people the three goals of life, and gives to they who yearn for liberation the highest kind of liberation. What more do you wish to hear? .pa

trivargya-daṁ janānāṁ tu mumukṣūṇāṁ su-mukti-dam mayā tavāgre kathitaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi evam—thus; śrī-kṛṣṇacandrasya—of Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra; rāsākhyānam—named rasa; manoharam—beautiful; sarva-pāpa—all sins; haram—removing; puṇyam—pure; kāma-dam—fulfilling desires; maṅgalāyanam—auspicious; trivargya-dam—granting the three goals of life; janānām—of the people; tu—indeed; mumukṣūṇām—of they who desire liberation; su-mukti-dam—giving liberation; mayā—by me; tava—of you; agre—in the presence; kathitam—spoken; kim—what?; bhūyaḥ—more; śrotum—to hear; icchasi—you wish. Thus I have described to You Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra's beautiful and sacred rāsa dance, which removes all sins, fulfills all desires, brings auspiciousness, gives to the people the three goals of life, and gives to they who yearn for liberation the highest kind of liberation. What more do you wish to hear? .pa