Chapter Seventeen Siddhāśrame Śrī-Rādhā-Kṛṣṇāgamane Rādhā-prema-prakāśaḥ Śrī Śrī Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa Meet at Siddhāśrama and the Nature of Śrī Rādhā's Love Is Revealed

Seeing that Lord Kṛṣṇa has come with His queens, the happy gopīs called out "All glories! All glories!"

With folded hands Śrī Rādhā circumambulated Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Then tears of bliss fell from Her lotus eyes.

kaustubhaiḥ prakhacit pṛṣṭhaṁ kumbha-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam pārijātaka-puṣpāḍhyaṁ pīyūṣa-sravi-chatra-mat dattvā siṁhāsanaṁ tasmai prāha prahasitānanā adya me saphalaṁ janma cādya me saphalaṁ tapaḥ syamantaka-khacit-pādam—its feet studded with syamantaka jewels; cintāmaṇi-khacit-taṭam—its sides studded with cintāmaṇi jewels; padmarāga-lasan-madhyam—its middle glistening with rubies; candra-maṇḍala-vartulam—round as the moon; kaustubhaiḥ—with kaustubha jewels; prakhacit—studded; pṛṣṭham—its back; kumbha-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam—decorated with a dome; pārijātaka-puṣpāḍhyam—opulent with parijata flowers; pīyūṣa-sravi—dripping nectar; chatra-mat—with a parasol; dattvā—offering; siṁhāsanam—a throne; tasmai—to Him; prāha—said; prahasita—smiling; ānanā—face; adya—today; me—my; saphalam—success; janma—birth; ca—and; adya—today; me—of me; saphalam—success; tapaḥ—austerities. Then, offering Him a throne with feet of syamantaka jewels, sides of cintāmaṇi jewels, a middle glistening with rubies, a back of kaustubha jewels, opulent with many pārijāta flowers, round as the moon, and with a glorious dome and a parasol showering nectar, smiling Śrī Rādhā said to Lord Kṛṣṇa, Now my life is a success. Now my austerities are a success.

kaustubhaiḥ prakhacit pṛṣṭhaṁ kumbha-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam pārijātaka-puṣpāḍhyaṁ pīyūṣa-sravi-chatra-mat dattvā siṁhāsanaṁ tasmai prāha prahasitānanā adya me saphalaṁ janma cādya me saphalaṁ tapaḥ syamantaka-khacit-pādam—its feet studded with syamantaka jewels; cintāmaṇi-khacit-taṭam—its sides studded with cintāmaṇi jewels; padmarāga-lasan-madhyam—its middle glistening with rubies; candra-maṇḍala-vartulam—round as the moon; kaustubhaiḥ—with kaustubha jewels; prakhacit—studded; pṛṣṭham—its back; kumbha-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam—decorated with a dome; pārijātaka-puṣpāḍhyam—opulent with parijata flowers; pīyūṣa-sravi—dripping nectar; chatra-mat—with a parasol; dattvā—offering; siṁhāsanam—a throne; tasmai—to Him; prāha—said; prahasita—smiling; ānanā—face; adya—today; me—my; saphalam—success; janma—birth; ca—and; adya—today; me—of me; saphalam—success; tapaḥ—austerities. Then, offering Him a throne with feet of syamantaka jewels, sides of cintāmaṇi jewels, a middle glistening with rubies, a back of kaustubha jewels, opulent with many pārijāta flowers, round as the moon, and with a glorious dome and a parasol showering nectar, smiling Śrī Rādhā said to Lord Kṛṣṇa, Now my life is a success. Now my austerities are a success.

kaustubhaiḥ prakhacit pṛṣṭhaṁ kumbha-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam pārijātaka-puṣpāḍhyaṁ pīyūṣa-sravi-chatra-mat dattvā siṁhāsanaṁ tasmai prāha prahasitānanā adya me saphalaṁ janma cādya me saphalaṁ tapaḥ syamantaka-khacit-pādam—its feet studded with syamantaka jewels; cintāmaṇi-khacit-taṭam—its sides studded with cintāmaṇi jewels; padmarāga-lasan-madhyam—its middle glistening with rubies; candra-maṇḍala-vartulam—round as the moon; kaustubhaiḥ—with kaustubha jewels; prakhacit—studded; pṛṣṭham—its back; kumbha-maṇḍala-maṇḍitam—decorated with a dome; pārijātaka-puṣpāḍhyam—opulent with parijata flowers; pīyūṣa-sravi—dripping nectar; chatra-mat—with a parasol; dattvā—offering; siṁhāsanam—a throne; tasmai—to Him; prāha—said; prahasita—smiling; ānanā—face; adya—today; me—my; saphalam—success; janma—birth; ca—and; adya—today; me—of me; saphalam—success; tapaḥ—austerities. Then, offering Him a throne with feet of syamantaka jewels, sides of cintāmaṇi jewels, a middle glistening with rubies, a back of kaustubha jewels, opulent with many pārijāta flowers, round as the moon, and with a glorious dome and a parasol showering nectar, smiling Śrī Rādhā said to Lord Kṛṣṇa, Now my life is a success. Now my austerities are a success.

"O Kṛṣṇa, now that You have come My practice of religion is a success and My bathing at Siddhāśrama is a wonderful success. Actually I have no devotion to You, who are served by Your real devotees.

"O Lord, You gave Me many friends in this world. You brought fear ot Kaṁsa, who had conquered all the worlds.

"O Kṛṣṇa, on My request You killed Śaṅkhacūḍa. O Lord, out of love for Me You revealed Your power and glory in Vraja.

"O Lord, for My sake You broke Indra's pride and lifted Govardhana Hill.

"In the rāsa dance You embraced the gopīs to Your heart's content. Your were conquered by the gopīs. O Lord, these pastimes of Yours imitate the actions of human beings.

As Śrī Rādhā was speaking these words, Candrānanā informed Her of the queens' presence. Respectfully glancing at the queens, Śrī Rādhā offered them all respect.

Meeting Rukmiṇī, Jāmbavatī, Satyabhāmā, Satyā, Bhadrā, Lakṣmaṇā, Kālindī, Mitravindā, sixteen thousand other queens, headed by Rohiṇī, Śrī Rādhā, filled with love and joy, embraced them in Her arms.

Meeting Rukmiṇī, Jāmbavatī, Satyabhāmā, Satyā, Bhadrā, Lakṣmaṇā, Kālindī, Mitravindā, sixteen thousand other queens, headed by Rohiṇī, Śrī Rādhā, filled with love and joy, embraced them in Her arms.

Śrī Rādhā said: As there is but one moon but the cakora birds are many, and as there is but one sun but the eyes are many, so there is but one Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇacandra, but we devotees, O My sisters, are many.

yathā sahasreṣu janeṣu satsu rasa-prabhāvaṁ rasikas tathā hi jānāti tattvena narendra-putryaḥ kṛṣṇa-prabhāvaṁ bhuvi kṛṣṇa-bhaktaḥ padma-prabhāvam—the glory of the lotus; madhupaḥ—a bee; yathā—as; hi—indeed; ratna-prabhāvam—the glory of jewels; kila—indeed; tat-parīkṣit—someone searching for jewels; vidyā-prabhāvam—the glory of knowledge; ca—and; yathā—as; hi—indeed; vidvān—a scholar; kavya-prabhāvam—the glory of poetry; ca—and; yathā—as; kavīndraḥ—the king of poets; yathā—as; sahasreṣu—among tousands; janeṣu—of people; satsu—saintly; rasa-prabhāvam—the glory of nectar mellows; rasikaḥ—they who are expert at relishing nectar; tathā—so; hi—indeed; jānāti—knows; tattvena—in truth; narendra-putryaḥ—O queens; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prabhāvam—the glory; bhuvi—in this world; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaktaḥ—a devotee. O queens, as a bumblebee understands the glory of lotus flowers, as a jeweler understands the glory of jewels, as a scholar understands the glory of knowledge, as a poet understands the glory of poetry, and as a person expert at tasting nectar understands the glory of the nectar held by thousands of saintly devotees, so only a devotee of Kṛṣṇa can understand the glory of Kṛṣṇa in truth.

yathā sahasreṣu janeṣu satsu rasa-prabhāvaṁ rasikas tathā hi jānāti tattvena narendra-putryaḥ kṛṣṇa-prabhāvaṁ bhuvi kṛṣṇa-bhaktaḥ padma-prabhāvam—the glory of the lotus; madhupaḥ—a bee; yathā—as; hi—indeed; ratna-prabhāvam—the glory of jewels; kila—indeed; tat-parīkṣit—someone searching for jewels; vidyā-prabhāvam—the glory of knowledge; ca—and; yathā—as; hi—indeed; vidvān—a scholar; kavya-prabhāvam—the glory of poetry; ca—and; yathā—as; kavīndraḥ—the king of poets; yathā—as; sahasreṣu—among tousands; janeṣu—of people; satsu—saintly; rasa-prabhāvam—the glory of nectar mellows; rasikaḥ—they who are expert at relishing nectar; tathā—so; hi—indeed; jānāti—knows; tattvena—in truth; narendra-putryaḥ—O queens; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; prabhāvam—the glory; bhuvi—in this world; kṛṣṇa—of Lord Kṛṣṇa; bhaktaḥ—a devotee. O queens, as a bumblebee understands the glory of lotus flowers, as a jeweler understands the glory of jewels, as a scholar understands the glory of knowledge, as a poet understands the glory of poetry, and as a person expert at tasting nectar understands the glory of the nectar held by thousands of saintly devotees, so only a devotee of Kṛṣṇa can understand the glory of Kṛṣṇa in truth.

Śrī Nārada said: After hearing Śrī Rādhā's words, Bhīṣmaka's daughter Rukmiṇī, who stood in the company of her co-wives, spoke to lotus-eyed Śrī Rādhā.

Śrī Rukmiṇī said: O Rādhā, O daughter of King Vṛṣabhānu, You are fortunate. Kṛṣṇa is conquered by Your love. He is under Your control. The three worlds glorify Kṛṣṇa, but Kṛṣṇa glorifies You.

We have already heard of Your great love for Lord Kṛṣṇa, so we are not surprised now that we may see it directly. Please come to our palanquins. We have come here to honor You and take You with us.

Śrī Nārada said: After speaking these words, to her own palanquin noble-hearted Queen Rukmiṇī respectfully brought Śrī Rādhā.

sukhaṁ nivāsayām āsa vāsaḥ srāṅ-maṇḍanādibhiḥ sampūjya vidhivad rātrau sapatnī-sahitā satī śibire—on the palanquin; sarvato-bhadre—named sarvato-bhadra; padma—lotus; kiṣjalka—whorls; vāsite—scented; haime—golden; śirīṣa—with sirisa flowers; mṛdule—soft; paryaṅke—on the seat; sa-upabarhaṇe—with cushions; sukham—comfortably; nivāsayām āsa—seated; vāsaḥ—fragrance; srāṅ-maṇḍanādibhiḥ—with flower decorations and other ornaments; sampūjya—worshiping; vidhivat—properly; rātrau—at night; sapatnī-sahitā—with her co-wives; satī—saintly. Then Rukmiṇī made Śrī Rādhā comfortable on the golden palanquin named Sarvatobhadra, which was fragrant with lotus whorls, flower garlands, and flower-decorations, and which had very soft cushions decorated with soft śirīṣa flowers. That night Rukmiṇī, accompanied by her co-wives, worshiped Śrī Rādhā.

sukhaṁ nivāsayām āsa vāsaḥ srāṅ-maṇḍanādibhiḥ sampūjya vidhivad rātrau sapatnī-sahitā satī śibire—on the palanquin; sarvato-bhadre—named sarvato-bhadra; padma—lotus; kiṣjalka—whorls; vāsite—scented; haime—golden; śirīṣa—with sirisa flowers; mṛdule—soft; paryaṅke—on the seat; sa-upabarhaṇe—with cushions; sukham—comfortably; nivāsayām āsa—seated; vāsaḥ—fragrance; srāṅ-maṇḍanādibhiḥ—with flower decorations and other ornaments; sampūjya—worshiping; vidhivat—properly; rātrau—at night; sapatnī-sahitā—with her co-wives; satī—saintly. Then Rukmiṇī made Śrī Rādhā comfortable on the golden palanquin named Sarvatobhadra, which was fragrant with lotus whorls, flower garlands, and flower-decorations, and which had very soft cushions decorated with soft śirīṣa flowers. That night Rukmiṇī, accompanied by her co-wives, worshiped Śrī Rādhā.

Then Rukmiṇī and her co-wives worshiped the hundred groups of gopīs one by one. After talking of many things, Lord Kṛṣṇa's queens saw that each gopī comfortably went to sleep. Then the queens happily returned to their own palanquins.

Seeing that Lord Kṛṣṇa was still awake, Rukmiṇi went to His side and said, "Master, who do You not sleep?"

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O girl with the beautiful eyebrows, Rādhā was very pleased by the respectful welcome you gave Her.

She always drinks milk before She takes rest. Still, O girl with the beautiful eyebrows, you did not arrange that She have milk to drink.

For that reason, O noble-hearted girl, sleep has not come to Her eyes. O daughter of King Bhīṣmaka, because She cannot sleep, I cannot sleep.

Śrī Nārada said: After hearing these words, Rukmiṇī, accompanied by her co-wives, brought a cup of milk to Śrī Rādhā.

Then Rukmiṇī affectionately gave to Śrī Rādhā a golden cup filled with hot milk sweetened with sugar.

Then, accompanied by Satyabhāmā and the other queens, Rukmiṇī respectfully offered Rādhā some betelnuts.

Approaching Lord Kṛṣṇa, beautiful Śrī Rukmiṇī told what she had done. Then she worshiped the Lord's lotus feet.

As she massaged them with her soft flower-bud hands, Rukmiṇī suddenly noticed many blisters on the soles of Lord Kṛṣṇa's feet. She was very surprised.

Śrī Rukmiṇī said: Master, how have these blisters come on the soles of Your feet? I cannot understand the reason.

As the sixteen thousand queens listened, cheerful Lord Kṛṣṇa, wishing to show them the depth of Śrī Rādhā's love, spoke to Rukmiṇī.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Day and night My lotus feet stay in Śrī Rādhā's lotus heart. Bound by ropes of love and devotion, they cannot leave for a moment or even half a moment.

When Śrī Rādhā drank that very hot milk, My lotus feet in Her heart became burned and that is why they are now covered with blisters. You did not offer Her warm milk. You offered Her milk that was far too hot.

Śrī Nārada said: When they heard His words, Śrī Rukmiṇī and the other beautiful queens that had been massaging Lord Kṛṣṇa's feet became filled with wonder.

Śrī Rādhā's love for Lord Kṛṣṇa has no rival and no equal in this world. It is the greatest love. .pa