Kṛṣṇa steals the kasturī-bindu

116 Kṛṣṇa exclaims,
"First I'll remove the Vaṁśī's mark from Rādhā's chin
and clear my debt with Viśākhā.
Then I'll escort Rādhikā to the nikunja jailhouse, recover my flute
and give her the punishment she merits!"

117 Thus Kṛṣṇa approaches Priyaji to begin kissing her, but Lalitā boldly rushes between them and reprimands the intoxicated nagara! Feigning anger, Lalitā exclaims with a triumphant smile,
118 "What a disaster! Rāi hasn't performed Sūrya Pūja yet, and you're about to contaminate her! Aha! Clear out! Have you no respect for Vedic dharma and social custom?"

Ṭīkā: Whether the sakhīs create a favorable or unfavorable breeze, the high waves created in Kṛṣṇa's līlā rasa sindhu give pleasure to everyone. Thus, Lalitā Sundari skilfully strikes Kṛṣṇa with a rebuke that has a double meaning. Outwardly her message conveys the idea: "Stand back! Our priya sakhi wants to worship the god Mitra (i.e., Sūrya), so don't dare pollute her lips before the Pūja begins! Chi! chi! Your rude behavior will destroy any hope of getting the deity's grace!"

But the actual message is: "Rādhā wants to worship her mitra (i.e., her friend, Kṛṣṇa) in the Kandarpa Yajña. So, before the main Pūja begins in the nikuñjas, you can inaugurate the auspicious ādhivāsa mahotsava - the preparatory rites for a large sacrifice with your lips. And thus, all impediments to your prema dharma will cease!"

119 Hearing Lalitā, Kṛṣṇa replies, "Rādhe! You can't blame my teeth, for they're not the aparādhī. Rather, because you've openly displayed this bindu, the fault lies with you!"

Ṭīkā: Catura cūḍāmaṇi (the crown jewel amongst the witty) knows that if he enters the tornado of Lalitā's arguments his desires will be foiled. Thus, he turns his attention to Rādhā, moves in closer, and utter the previous verse.

120 Kṛṣṇa forcefully kisses Rādhā's lips and removes her kasturī-bindu saying: "Hey Śaśi-mukhi, although this bindu looked beautiful on your chin, when it saw its dark friend approaching, it leaped to safety within the fort of my teeth in fear of you."

Ṭīkā: Before Rādhā can show anger and her kuṭṭamita-bhāva, Kṛṣṇa quickly tries to cover up for his boldness with a witty excuse: "Rādhe! I said that my teeth aren't to blame. And here's the reason: as your bindu and I are of the same color, it recognizes me as its true friend. Thus, when I approached, it leaped to merge back in me! Look, as the word daśana दशन (teeth) becomes daṁśana दँशन (destroy) by adding the candra bindu-with your candra bindu's help my teeth have taken up their daṁśana-dharma (the business of biting you) !"

121 Kundalatā says, "Hey Rādhe! As you're a leading poet, you can compose verses in the bindu cyutaka meter (causing the bindu to fall). But your rival, Kṛṣṇa, composes in the bindodgama style (to recover the bindu). Thus, as your face kisses the kasturī-bindu-Kṛṣṇa kisses your face."

Ṭīkā: Kundalatā composes a pun using a trick of Sanskṛta alaṅkāra. She says, "Oh Rāi! You're a clever poet, just like Kṛṣṇa. So, as you've turned the Vaṁśī वँशी (flute) into a vaśi वशी (captor) by removing the candra bindu, Kṛṣṇa converted his daśana दशन (teeth) to daṁśana दँशन by accepting the bindu!" (This word-jugglery centers around the candra-bindu's placement)

122 Kundalatā continues: "Rādhe! When a talented person displays his genius, people knowing those arts become elated. Therefore, you can decorate Kṛṣṇa with your jewel-mālā (bite Kṛṣṇa with your teeth)!"

Ṭīkā: The meaning is: "Rādhe! When two distinguished persons meet, it's customary that they honor each other with garlands. So as Kṛṣṇa has garlanded you with his maṇi-mālā, it's your duty to garland him with your crystal row of teeth!"

123 Rādhikā replies, "Hey Kundalate! Because you're captivated by your cousin's illustrious qualities, why don't you worship his bright lips with your white kunda flower teeth?"

Ṭīkā: Narma paṇḍitā (clever lingvist) Śrī Rādhikā replies, "Kundalate! All of the Vraja-padminīs are turned off by the icy winds blowing from your cousin's mouth. But the kunda flower is the one that bloom in the winter. And because you're like a kunda flower, you can enjoy his shrewd remarks. So just offer your teeth (that are white as the kunda flowers) to the bright sun of Kṛṣṇa's lips."

124-125 Kundalatā feigns anger and says, "Hey Kṛṣṇa! Rādhā is Mukharā's pretty grand-daughter- thus she is also mukharā (always bickering). And Lalitā is prakharā (hot-tempered). So, as you're gentle and shy, how will you recover your Vaṁśī from them? If you want your flute back-I think that it's time to start getting tough!

Just consider- all of these gopis are pragalbhā (outspoken), kuṭila (crooked) and they far outnumber you. But you're soft-natured and stand alone. And besides, your Muralī was your only support, but that was plundered. So, as you've still got your clothes and ornaments, perhaps you should flee back to the cow-pastures-lest these shrewd gopis might even steal those too!"

Ṭīkā: Seeing that Kṛṣṇa isn't making progress in debating with the gopis, Kundalatā wishes to speed things up. Hence, she feigns anger and advises Kṛṣṇa to use force-otherwise he might lose the chance to enjoy Rādhā.