Contents
Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami
Act Four : snigdha madhusüdanaù
The Tender Slayer of Madhu
Scene Eight
Song 8
Verse 3
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“The arrows of Kämadeva are falling incessantly upon her heart. Since you are also present there, she is making a mystical shield (kavaca) to protect you by covering her vulnerable heart with large lotus petals bearing droplets of water.” CommentaryBy meditating continuously on Kṛṣṇa, Rädhä attained oneness of heart with him. To inform him of this, the sakhé says, “O Mädhava, you are always present in the heart of Rädhä. She thought to herself, ‘Kämadeva is perpetually raining his arrows upon me but Shri Kṛṣṇa should not undergo the slightest difficulty.’ So she covers her vulnerable heart with large lotus petals bearing droplets of water (jäla). She is employing all possible measures to protect you.” The word jäla can also mean “net”. The sakhé implies, “She has covered her heart with the net of lotus petals” to express Rädhä’s sentiment, “May you never leave my heart even for a moment.” “The quiver of Kämadeva is inexhaustible. He shoots his arrows one after another. O Mädhava, although she is helpless in separation from you, she still tries to think of a remedy. But what can she think of? The lotus petals she uses are themselves exactly like Kämadeva’s arrows. And from where will the droplets of water for this shield come? How pitiful it is that even by making a shield, she simply increases her own suffering.” |
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