Gita Govinda -Jayadeva 310

Gita Govinda -Shri Jayadeva Gosvami

Act Seven : nägara näräyaëaù

The Dextrous Divinity

Scene Sixteen : Song 16 : Verse 36

kanaka-nikaña-ruci-çuci-vasanena çvasiti na sä parijana-hasanena sakhi! yä ramitä Translation “With his dark complexion dressed in pure yellow cloth, Kṛṣṇa resembles a touchstone for testing gold. The fortunate young woman who has been enjoyed by him never has to draw deep breaths after becoming the cause of laughter for those around her.” Commentary Complimentary- “Sakhi, Kṛṣṇa’s cloth is as pure, yellow and radiant as golden lines rubbed upon the dark testing stone of his body. That greatly fortunate mistress is also his yellow garment when he binds her in the ropes of his arms. So what will that noble young woman, who has been delighted by him, know of the pain felt when one’s own retinue begin to make jokes at one’s expense? Will she know how one’s breathing becomes stifled or what kind of dejection arises?” Critical- “Çyämasundara wears yellow garments and his dark complexion is as lustrous as gold. To attain the happiness of union with him, that gopé wears saffron garments. Saffron is a colour suitable for ascetics, therefore she is now an object of ridicule amongst her own entourage. She must be depressed about that.”