1-10 Nāndīmukhī's message from Paurṇamāsī

1 Vṛnda Devī addresses Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa: "Oh, hey Vrāja-kanana-iśvara and Vrāja-kanana-iśvari! The six seasons have a request to make at your lotus feet. Please hear them along with your Sakhīs."
2 She then recited the six seasons' prayer: "O Rādhā Kṛṣṇa! We're your dāsīs and we have decorated the forest for your pleasure-so now just have a look! If you enjoy yourselves here our labour will have borne fruit, for it is a servant's greatest reward to have his master admire his handiwork.

Ṭīkā: As you will recall, Vṛnda, Nāndīmukhī and Kuṇḍalatā hid behind the foliage to watch Rādhā Govinda's rati keli. Afterwards, Vṛnda called the Sakhīs to narrate Śrī Rādhikā Devī's Rūpa guṇa-mādhurī. Now she introduces the next pastime, namely Vana-vihāra, or sightseeing in the forest. There are countless Kuñjas at Rādhā Kuṇḍ where the six seasons display their wonders. Vṛnda is the guide who will take everyone to watch as new Līlās unfold in each of the seasonal Kuñjas. These pastimes will be the topics of the remaining Madhyāhna Līlā chapters.

3 Vṛnda continued, "Praneśwar and Praneśwari! All of the mobile and immobile forest residents are in these different playgrounds, waiting for you. Just hear what they have to say,
4 "We will be graced to see your splendid Yugala milan within our midst! So please fulfill our desire and allow us to serve you."

5 At that moment, Madhumaṅgal arrives with Subala and addresses Kṛṣṇa: "Hey Priya-sakhā! All your subjects here in Vṛndāvan have been left penniless by Rādhā.
6 She has looted all of the forest's inner wealth of saundarya and mādhurya (beauty and sweetness) with her bodily luster! What's more, she and her Sakhīs have also stolen all of its external wealth, the fruits and flowers!"

Ṭīkā: In chapter 6, Batu Madhumaṅgal and Subala accompānied Kṛṣṇa when he left the other sakhas to search for Rādhāranī. Then they followed Kṛṣṇa up to Viśākhā's bower at Rādhā Kuṇḍ, where they remained while Kṛṣṇa enjoyed with Rādhā and the Sakhīs. But now Batu and Subala have returned to help Kṛṣṇa. Madhu thus starts with his usual joking in order to instigate a new Prema kandala (love-quarrel).

7-8 Then Nāndīmukhī arrives, exclaiming: "Hey Rādhā Kṛṣṇa! All glories to you and all your friends! Bhagavatī Paurṇamāsī Devī sends you hundreds of blessings. She also has some advice for you, please listen: 'O hey Rādhe Śyāma! Vṛndāvan's sovereign monarch, Śrī Smara Cakravartī Mahāraj, who wields a fierce scepter, has crowned both of you equally to rule his kingdom! Moreover, he has assigned the Kokilas and the bumblebees to be your attendants.'"

Ṭīkā: Nāndīmukhī's sudden appearance at the all-knowing Paurṇamāsī's behest comes just in time to defuse Madhu's attempts to get Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa quarreling. Paurṇamāsī's blessings provide a charming metaphor for the Vrāja Rāsa. Smara Cakravartī is Kāmadeva; Vṛndāvan is his ultimate realm, because Rādhā Kṛṣṇa's Prema dalliance is the supreme maṇifestation of conjugal love. Paurṇamāsī furthermore states that he has granted Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa equal dominion over this forest. Hence the Vṛndāvan kingdom is not Kṛṣṇa's alone, nor is it Rādhā's. It is theirs to enjoy equally and they should not fight over such trivial matters.

9 [Nāndīmukhī continues] "Paurṇamāsī says that you should not quarrel amongst yourselves. Bickering will only disturb your amorous pleasure. And later you'll have to bear Kandarpa Rāja's revenge. So please take my advice to peacefully enjoy the forest kingdom along with the fruits of your Prema.

Ṭīkā: "Paurṇamāsī has heard about your rough behavior in the Vaṁśī-harana, Nava-graha and Dik-pala Pūja Līlās. Thus she declares that by such behavior you will be deprived of the spoils of your kingdom, i.e., your Prema vilāsa. Then you'll have to suffer Kandarpa Rāja's retaliation, i.e., the torture of separation!"

10 [Nāndīmukhī] "Paurṇamāsī further told me that if the two of you start quarreling again,
I should consult with Vṛnda and determine who is starting the trouble.
Then I should go and present her with the facts."

Ṭīkā: 'And with those words, Nāndīmukhī virtually guarantees that they will start bickering again!