Chapter Sixteen Śrī Rādhā-rūpa-darśana Seeing Śrī Rādhā's Form

O noble-hearted king, please hear the glories of Siddhāśrama. Simply by hearing its glories one becomes free of all sins.

One who touches the land of Siddhāśrama will never be separated from Lord Kṛṣṇa. They who know the truth of ancient times say this place is named Siddhāśrama.

By seeing Siddhāśrama one attains sālokya liberation. By touching it one attains sāmīpya liberation. By bathing there one attains sārūpya liberation. By residing there one attains sāyujya liberation.

When Śrī Rādhā, who was broken-hearted in separation from Lord Kṛṣṇa, heard from Candrānanā's mouth the glories of Siddhāśrama, She decided bathe in that holy place.

Leaving the forest of Kadalīvana on the sūrya-parva day in the month of Mādhava (April-May), Śrī Rādhā decided to go on a pilgrimage to Siddhāśrama.

śrī-rādhā sibikārūḍhā chatra-cāmara-vījitā ānarteṣu mahā-tīrthaṁ yayau siddhāśramaṁ satī gopīnām—of gopīs; śata-yūthena—with a hundred groups; sarva-gopa-gaṇaiḥ—with all the gopas; saha—with; śata-varṣe—a hundred years; vyatīte—passed; tu—indeed; śrīdāmnaḥ—of Śrīdāmā; śāpa-kāraṇāt—from the curse; śrī-rādhā—Śrī Rādhā; sibikārūḍhā—on a palanquin; chatra—parasol; cāmara—camaras; vījitā—fanned; ānarteṣu—in Anarta-deśa; mahā-tīrtham—top the great holy place; yayau—went; siddhāśramam—to Siddhāśrama; satī—saintly. Now that the hundred years of Śrīdāmā's curse had passed, saintly Śrī Rādhā, riding on a palanquin, a parasol held over Her, fanned by many cāmaras, and accompanied by a hundred groups of gopīs and all the gopas, went to holy Siddhāśrama in the country of Anarta.

śrī-rādhā sibikārūḍhā chatra-cāmara-vījitā ānarteṣu mahā-tīrthaṁ yayau siddhāśramaṁ satī gopīnām—of gopīs; śata-yūthena—with a hundred groups; sarva-gopa-gaṇaiḥ—with all the gopas; saha—with; śata-varṣe—a hundred years; vyatīte—passed; tu—indeed; śrīdāmnaḥ—of Śrīdāmā; śāpa-kāraṇāt—from the curse; śrī-rādhā—Śrī Rādhā; sibikārūḍhā—on a palanquin; chatra—parasol; cāmara—camaras; vījitā—fanned; ānarteṣu—in Anarta-deśa; mahā-tīrtham—top the great holy place; yayau—went; siddhāśramam—to Siddhāśrama; satī—saintly. Now that the hundred years of Śrīdāmā's curse had passed, saintly Śrī Rādhā, riding on a palanquin, a parasol held over Her, fanned by many cāmaras, and accompanied by a hundred groups of gopīs and all the gopas, went to holy Siddhāśrama in the country of Anarta.

O king, accompanied by His sixteen-thousand queens and all His relatives in the Yādava dynasty, Lord Kṛṣṇa also went on a pilgrimage to Siddhāśrama.

By Śrī Rādhā 's order many millions of strong gopas, weapons in hand, protected the pilgrimage-party in Siddhāśrama.

Sticks in hand, a hundred groups of very strong gopīs protected and served Śrī Rādhā as She bathed at Siddhāśrama.

As the men of Dvārakā, wishing to bathe there, were being beaten with sticks, Lord Kṛṣṇa's queens entered that place.

The queens asked: Who is the girl bathing here? Her power is wonderful. The best of the Yādava warriors are terrified of Her.

Who is Her beloved? What is Her name? Where does She live? O Lord, You know everything. O son of Devakī, please tell us.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: She is named Rādhā. She is the daughter of Kīrti and Vṛṣabhānu. She is the queen of Vraja and the queen of the gopīs. She is very exalted. I am Her beloved.

Accompanied by many gopīs, from Vraja She has come to bathe at Siddhāśrama. The great Yādava warriors are terrified of Her. That is Her wonderful power.

After hearing Lord Kṛṣṇa's words, beautiful Satyabhāmā, who proudly thought herself the queen whose youthful beauty was the greatest, slowly said:

Why is Rādhā so beautiful? Am I not beautiful? Beauty and virtue worship me. Many begged for my hand.

Because of my beauty Akrūra and Kṛtavarmā fled and Śatadhanvā died.

na santi māyinas tatra yatrāste 'bhyarcito maṇiḥ mat-pitrā paribarhe 'pi dattaḥ sākṣāt syamantakaḥ dine dine—day after day; svarṇa-bhārān—bharas of gold; aṣṭāu—eight; sa—it; sṛjati—creates; svataḥ—itselkf; durbhikṣa—famines; māry—plague; ariṣṭāni—calamities; sarva—all; ādhi—sufferings; vyādhayaḥ—diseases; aśubhāḥ—inauspicious; na—not; santi—are; māyinaḥ—theives; tatra—there; yatra—where; āste—is; abhyarcitaḥ—worshiped; maṇiḥ—jewel; mat-pitrā—by my father; paribarhe—as a wedding present; api—even; dattaḥ—given; sākṣāt—directly; syamantakaḥ—Syamantaka. On the day of my marriage as a wedding present my father gave the Syamantaka jewel. That jewel produces eight bhāras of gold every day. In the country where that jewel is worshiped there are no famines, plagues, calamities, diseases, thieves, or anything inauspicious.

na santi māyinas tatra yatrāste 'bhyarcito maṇiḥ mat-pitrā paribarhe 'pi dattaḥ sākṣāt syamantakaḥ dine dine—day after day; svarṇa-bhārān—bharas of gold; aṣṭāu—eight; sa—it; sṛjati—creates; svataḥ—itselkf; durbhikṣa—famines; māry—plague; ariṣṭāni—calamities; sarva—all; ādhi—sufferings; vyādhayaḥ—diseases; aśubhāḥ—inauspicious; na—not; santi—are; māyinaḥ—theives; tatra—there; yatra—where; āste—is; abhyarcitaḥ—worshiped; maṇiḥ—jewel; mat-pitrā—by my father; paribarhe—as a wedding present; api—even; dattaḥ—given; sākṣāt—directly; syamantakaḥ—Syamantaka. On the day of my marriage as a wedding present my father gave the Syamantaka jewel. That jewel produces eight bhāras of gold every day. In the country where that jewel is worshiped there are no famines, plagues, calamities, diseases, thieves, or anything inauspicious.

Because of that jewel there is great power in my home. Because of that jewel Lord Kṛṣṇa loves me and took me riding on Garuḍa.

Because of me Lord Kṛṣṇa attacked Prāgjyotiṣa City and fought with Bhaumāsura. It is by my mercy that you all came from Bhaumāsura's City.

It is by my mercy that all of you became Lord Kṛṣṇa's wives. Of that there is no doubt. It is because of me that Lord Kṛṣṇa returned Indra's parasol.

mad-icchayā samānītāḥ śrī-kṛṣṇena mahātmanā mat-kāraṇān mahā-vairaṁ śakre 'pi kṛtavān hariḥ kuṇḍale—two earrings; deva-mātre—to the mother of the demigods; ca—and; datte—given; vai—indeed; mat-priya—of my beloved; icchayā—by the wish; airāvata—of Airāvata; bhavāḥ—the nature; nāgā—elephants; bhaumāsura-samṛddhayaḥ—the opulences of Bhaumasura; mat—of me; icchayā—by the desire; samānītāḥ—brought; śrī-kṛṣṇena—by Śrī Kṛṣṇa; mahātmanā—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mat-kāraṇān—because of me; mahā-vairam—great enmity; śakre—with Indra; api—even; kṛtavān—did; hariḥ—Kṛṣṇa. Because of my wish Lord Kṛṣṇa returned Aditi's earrings and Indra's parasol. Because of my wish Lord Kṛṣṇa took Bhaumāsura's riches and his elephants powerful as Airāvata. Becasue of me Lord Kṛṣṇa fought with Indra.

mad-icchayā samānītāḥ śrī-kṛṣṇena mahātmanā mat-kāraṇān mahā-vairaṁ śakre 'pi kṛtavān hariḥ kuṇḍale—two earrings; deva-mātre—to the mother of the demigods; ca—and; datte—given; vai—indeed; mat-priya—of my beloved; icchayā—by the wish; airāvata—of Airāvata; bhavāḥ—the nature; nāgā—elephants; bhaumāsura-samṛddhayaḥ—the opulences of Bhaumasura; mat—of me; icchayā—by the desire; samānītāḥ—brought; śrī-kṛṣṇena—by Śrī Kṛṣṇa; mahātmanā—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mat-kāraṇān—because of me; mahā-vairam—great enmity; śakre—with Indra; api—even; kṛtavān—did; hariḥ—Kṛṣṇa. Because of my wish Lord Kṛṣṇa returned Aditi's earrings and Indra's parasol. Because of my wish Lord Kṛṣṇa took Bhaumāsura's riches and his elephants powerful as Airāvata. Becasue of me Lord Kṛṣṇa fought with Indra.

By the doorway of my house a pārijāta, the king of trees, eternally grows. With devotion to Him I have brought Lord Kṛṣṇa under my control.

It is becasue of me that Lord gave many gifts to Nārada Muni. No one is my equal. Who is glorious and powerful like me?

he śubhru rukmiṇī sā tvaṁ kathaṁ rūpavatī na hi sa gopa-kanyakā sakhyo yūyaṁ vai rāja-kanyakāḥ dhanyā manyāś ca sarvā vai yūyaṁ mānavatī-varāḥ rūpa—beauty; audaryam—virtues; na—not; kasya—of whom?; astu—is; rādhāyāḥ—of Rādhā; kim u—whether?; varṇaṇam—description; yad-rūpopari—on the beauty; caidya-ādyā—headed by Śisupala; anena—with Him; yuyudhuḥ—fought; yudhi—in battle; he—O; śubhru—girl with the beautiful eyeborws; rukmiṇī——Rukmiṇī; sā—she; tvam—you; katham—why?; rūpavatī—beautiful; na—not; hi—indeed; sa—she; gopa-kanyakā—a gopī; sakhyaḥ—O friends; yūyam—you all; vai—indeed; rāja-kanyakāḥ—princesses; dhanyā—fortunate; manyāḥ—worshipable and glorious; ca—and; sarvā—all; vai—indeed; yūyam—you; mānavatī-varāḥ—worthy of worship. No one is beautiful and virtuous like me. Who can be? Can it be said that this girl Rādhā is beautiful and virtuous like me? O Rukmiṇi with the beautiful eyebrows, Śiśupāla and a host of kings fought over your beauty. Are you not beautiful? Friends, this Rādhā is only a cowherd girl. You are all princesses. You are fortunate and glorious. You are all worthy to be worshiped.

he śubhru rukmiṇī sā tvaṁ kathaṁ rūpavatī na hi sa gopa-kanyakā sakhyo yūyaṁ vai rāja-kanyakāḥ dhanyā manyāś ca sarvā vai yūyaṁ mānavatī-varāḥ rūpa—beauty; audaryam—virtues; na—not; kasya—of whom?; astu—is; rādhāyāḥ—of Rādhā; kim u—whether?; varṇaṇam—description; yad-rūpopari—on the beauty; caidya-ādyā—headed by Śisupala; anena—with Him; yuyudhuḥ—fought; yudhi—in battle; he—O; śubhru—girl with the beautiful eyeborws; rukmiṇī——Rukmiṇī; sā—she; tvam—you; katham—why?; rūpavatī—beautiful; na—not; hi—indeed; sa—she; gopa-kanyakā—a gopī; sakhyaḥ—O friends; yūyam—you all; vai—indeed; rāja-kanyakāḥ—princesses; dhanyā—fortunate; manyāḥ—worshipable and glorious; ca—and; sarvā—all; vai—indeed; yūyam—you; mānavatī-varāḥ—worthy of worship. No one is beautiful and virtuous like me. Who can be? Can it be said that this girl Rādhā is beautiful and virtuous like me? O Rukmiṇi with the beautiful eyebrows, Śiśupāla and a host of kings fought over your beauty. Are you not beautiful? Friends, this Rādhā is only a cowherd girl. You are all princesses. You are fortunate and glorious. You are all worthy to be worshiped.

O king of Mithilā, as Satyabhāmā spoke these words, Śrī Rukmiṇī and the other beautiful queens became filled with pride.

Proud of their good fortune, virtues, wealth, and youthful beauty, the eight principal queens spoke to humble Lord Kṛṣṇa.

The queens said: From Your own mouth we have heard of Śrī Rādhā. We remember You said that You love Her eternally and She loves You eternally.

We wish to see Her, Rādhā, Your beloved, who lives in Vraja, and who, unhappy because She is separated from You, has come here to bathe.

Śrī Nārada said: Saying, "So be it.", and taking the sixteen thousand queens with Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa went to see Śrī Rādhā.

Śrī Rādhā's beautiful golden palanquin was decorated with flags, ornaments, a graceful awning glorious like the moon, . . .

. . . a curtain of pearls, many opulent cloths, and the all-pervading fragrance of mālatī flowers.

Attracted to that fragrance, many bees made a sweet-sounding commotion. Then the first queen, Śrī Rādhā, Her heart captivated by Lord Kṛṣṇa, came there.

Bearing Her palanquin, holding Her parasol, and fanning Her with fans splendid and graceful as a flock of swans, the gopīs carried Rādhā here and there.

aṅguly-agraiḥ śobhanaiḥ svaiḥ puṣpa-bhūmiṁ manoharaṁ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ pāda-padmaṁ dhārayanty ati-komalam bālārka-kuṇḍala-dharā—wearing earrings splendid as the rising sun; vidyud-dāma-manoharā—beautiful as a garland of lightning flashes; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśā—glorious as millions of moons; tanvī—slender; komala-vigrahā—Her form delicate; aṅguly-agraiḥ—with Her toes; śobhanaiḥ—beautiful; svaiḥ—own; puṣpa-bhūmim—on the ground of flowers; manoharam—beautiful; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—slowly; pāda-padmam—lotus feet; dhārayanti—placing; ati-komalam—very delicate. Then slender and delicate Rādhā, splendid as a necklace of lightning flashes, beautiful as millions of moons, and decorated with earrings glorious as the rising sun, gingerly placed first Her graceful toes, and then Her very delicate lotus feet on the ground filled with flowers.

aṅguly-agraiḥ śobhanaiḥ svaiḥ puṣpa-bhūmiṁ manoharaṁ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ pāda-padmaṁ dhārayanty ati-komalam bālārka-kuṇḍala-dharā—wearing earrings splendid as the rising sun; vidyud-dāma-manoharā—beautiful as a garland of lightning flashes; koṭi-candra-pratīkāśā—glorious as millions of moons; tanvī—slender; komala-vigrahā—Her form delicate; aṅguly-agraiḥ—with Her toes; śobhanaiḥ—beautiful; svaiḥ—own; puṣpa-bhūmim—on the ground of flowers; manoharam—beautiful; śanaiḥ śanaiḥ—slowly; pāda-padmam—lotus feet; dhārayanti—placing; ati-komalam—very delicate. Then slender and delicate Rādhā, splendid as a necklace of lightning flashes, beautiful as millions of moons, and decorated with earrings glorious as the rising sun, gingerly placed first Her graceful toes, and then Her very delicate lotus feet on the ground filled with flowers.

O great king, when they saw Śrī Rādhā from far away, Lord Kṛṣṇa's thousands of queens, overcome by the sight of Her beauty, suddenly fainted.

As the sun makes the many stars seem insignificant so Śrī Rādhā's beauty made the queens' beauty seem insignifant. Their pride in their own beauty now crushed, the queens said among themselves:

Such wonderful beauty has no equal. In the three worlds the like of it has never been seen or heard of before.

As they were speaking these words, Lord Kṛṣṇa's servants approached Śrī Rādhā. It was then that the gopīs and the queens met and their eyes embraced. .pa