Contents
Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami
Act One : sämoda dämodaraù
The Delighted Captive of Love
Verse 2
Commentary
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The pastimes of Shri Rädhä-Kṛṣṇa reside together like a collection of paintings in the mansion of Shri Jayadeva’s heart. An artist first has an internal vision. After transferring that vision to his canvas, it becomes a painting. Similar ly, this picture of loving pastimes has been painted by the brush of Shri Jayadeva. The marvellous mansion of his heart is decorated with paintings of Shri Rädhä- Mädhava’s intimate encounters, and its fabulous treasury is his fascina ting poetry. The poet has renounced all sense of responsibility for the author ship of this narration because his speech and mind are absorbed in Mädhava. Whence came the power to depict such pastimes? In reply Shri Jayadeva admits that his sensory powers are all inspired by Rädhä. And how is she present within those powers? Shri Rädhä is Padmävaté. The etymology of the word padmävaté is padmaà kare asti yasyäù – “She who holds a lotus flower in her hand,” namely Rädhä. This reference to Padmävaté implies that the poet is predominantly absorbed in the service of Padmävaté Rädhä through the dramatic dancing art of his lyrical expression. Padmävaté is also the name of Shri Jayadeva’s wife. The great poet praises Rädhä and simultaneously expresses feelings of gratitude towards his wife, Shri Padmävaté, who was highly elevated in the loving service of Shri Rädhä-Mädhava. The literary device of comparing the heart to a mansion is an example of rüpaka and anujïä alaìkäras. The chanda is vasanta-tilakä. We also find examples of oja guëa, gauòéyä réti, bhäraté våtti and sambhävitä géti. |
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