11-19 Rāsa-Tanz, Kṛṣṇa controlled by love, Gopīs’ Kṛṣṇa-Pūjā

11 Kalokti: "Kṛṣṇa allures the gopa kiśorīs with the Muralī's sweet song. Then he dances with them in Mahā Rāsa to satiate his desires! Hence the entire universe is rejuvenated with ānanda!"

Ṭīkā: Rāsa is Śrī Kṛṣṇa's sarva śreṣṭha Līlā (and except for the Gopīs, no one can enter the Rāsa-maṇḍala. But only Kṛṣṇa (and no other bhagavat-svarūpa) could possibly allure the Gopīs into the forest in the dead of night.

The basis of Kṛṣṇa's activities is to satisfy his bhaktas and to fill the world with joy. Amongst the nitya siddha bhaktas, the Gopīs are the śirṣa-sthāniyā (above all). Thus, to fulfill their desires, Kṛṣṇa performs Rāsa. But one may ask: "How does Kṛṣṇa's Rāsa Līlā make the whole world happy?" To answer this, the Gopīs are Kṛṣṇa's hlādinī śakti (pleasure potency), and amongst them, Rādhā is directly prema (love) personified.

Yet Kṛṣṇa is ānanda (ecstatic pleasure) personified. Hence, when the source of prema and ānanda join, the entire universe is replenished. Their prema-ānanda spreads through the ether, merges with the elements and surcharges every living entity. And moreover, the Rāsa Līlā brings joy to all who hear about it.

12-13 Mañjuvāk: "When Vraja Rāja Nanda embraces Kṛṣṇa, it appears that a blue lotus petal Mālā garlands him. Aha! Even the thousand mouths of Ananta cannot find an end to Kṛṣṇa's qualities!"

Kalokti: "Ma Yaśodā saw the whole universe within Kṛṣṇa's mouth and Kṛṣṇa held Govardhan as though it was a lotus flower. But how amazing Kṛṣṇa cannot contain his ecstasy upon seeing Rādhikā's lotus face!"

Ṭīkā: Upon seeing Rādhā's lotus-face, Kṛṣṇa loses all composure by the onslaught of aṣṭa-sattvika emotions! So, one might wonder: "Is this Rādhā's quality, or Kṛṣṇa's?" Aftcr pondering, it can be concluded: Here is Kṛṣṇa's quality of Supreme fortune.

14-15 Kalokti: "When Rādhikā sees her reflection in Kṛṣṇa's glossy chest, she mistakes it for another nāyikā embracing him. Thus angered, she turns her head and trembles with jealousy!"

Kalokti continues: "Because matchless Rādhikā stole Kṛṣṇa's mind, he never runs after other Sundarī ramaṇī. Would a honeybee give up the sweet lotus for a mere vine?"

Ṭīkā: Thus, Kṛṣṇa is called Madhusūdan.

16 Mañjuvāk: "Just as the sun is warm, the moon is cool, the earth is tolerant, the wind is restless, the saints are grave and the ocean is deep our Śrī Kṛṣṇa is controlled by love!"

Ṭīkā: Although Kṛṣṇa is Ajita (unconquerable), he is controlled by love. Hence those who wish to see him must first secure prema; there is no other way. Kṛṣṇa's submission to love is His underlining quality.

17-19 Kalokti: "Although Kṛṣṇa is grave, steady, forgiving, polite, enjoyable, modest and patient he is attacked by Kāma when seeing Sumukhī Rāi's lovely face-and restlessly wanders amuck within her subjugation!"

Mañjuvāk: "When Kṛṣṇa's beautiful qualities steal the patience and virtues of Lakṣmī and other devis from a far, what will happen to the Vraja Sundarīs whose hearts easily melt with deep love?"

How do the Vraja Sundarīs perform Kṛṣṇa Pūjā? The Śārī explains: "They offer padya with their perspiration, arghya with their horripilation, ācamana with their loving words, gandha with their bodily fragrance, puṣpa with their sweet, smling faces and finally they offer themselves in rati krida for naivedya, their kisses are an offering of tāmbūla.

Ṭīkā: For the Gopīs, prema's Pūjā is done with prema's upacaras (paraphernalia). Knowing Kṛṣṇa's fancy, they completely surrender themselves with body, mind and soul.