Gita Govinda -Jayadeva 188

Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami

Act Four : snigdha madhusüdanaù

The Tender Slayer of Madhu

Scene Eight

Song 8

Verse 7

prati-padam idam api nigadati mädhava tava caraëe patitäham tvayi vimukhe mayi sapadi sudhä-nidhir api tanute tanu-däham sä virahe tava dénä Translation “O Mädhava, after painting a picture of you in this form, Rädhä pleads again and again, ‘Hey Shri Kṛṣṇa! I am falling at your feet. As soon as you become indifferent to me, even the moon-god Candramä, with his chalice of nectar, begins to shower fire upon my body.’” Commentary The sakhé says, “O Shri Kṛṣṇa, wherever Rädhä goes, at every step she utters, ‘I fall at your feet. Please do not be indifferent to me. Whenever you are not satisfied with me, even Candramä, the ocean of cooling nectar, ignites a fire with in my body.’” The author of Rasa-maïjaré hints about the reason for Rädhä’s use of the word mädhava. The syllable mä refers to Lakñmé, and dhava means pati, her Lord. When Kṛṣṇa stays close to Rädhä, even Lakñmé, who relates to Rädhä as a rival, cannot harm her. But when Kṛṣṇa is indifferent to Rädhä, Lakñmé-devé’s brother, Candramä, tortures her for being the rival of his sister. This verse includes atiçayokti alaìkära. The description of Candramä acting against his nature is an example of virodha alaìkära.