21-26 Kusuma Cayana Vinoda (Amusing flower-picking pastime) II
21 Radha and Krishna studied the Kama-śastras from the Guru named Tāruṇya Bhaṭṭa. Although both students have amassed amazing talents-Krishna still wishes to debate with Rādhā. This shouldn't sound strange, however, because in this field students even argue with their Gurus; so debates amongst classmates aren't uncommon. Desiring to match wits with his Prāna-Priyatamā, Krishna initiates a prema kalaha (love quarrel).
22-23 Krishna: "Who's picking my flowers?
Radha: "No one."
Krishna : "Who are you?"
Radha: "Don't you know?"
Krishna: "No."
Radha: "Then take leave."
Krishna: "I am a puṣpapa (honey-bee), where should I go?"
Radha: "Go to your lady bee."
Krishna: "Oh hey! You're my bhramarī (lady bee)."
Radha: "How is that possible?"
Krishna: "Because your heart craves the flower, certainly you're a honey-bee!"
Ṭīkā: Madhusudan answers, "Aha! You're a parama sundarī, chaste and elite -so why are you stealing the Punnaga tree's Sumana flower? (Why do you steal the minds of handsome men?) This must be your craftiness -for discarding shyness you always freely roam in these forests!"
24 Krishna retorts: "Hey Sundarī! If you say "This is everyone's forest, and
everyone has equal rights here..... and we've come to worship 'Mitra' (the sun or
the friend)', then I'll reply: "The blooming Punnaga won't touch the Mālatī
(the Vraja Sundaris), for they've destroyed all of its flowers." Besides, I think
that by repeatedly uttering syllables beginning with 'P', such as Punnaga, puja
and puṣpa (that reveal your teeth) you are actually petitioning me for saṅga vilāsa!
Aha! I understand the real meaning of your words, you're saying:
"This forest isn't my husband Abhimanyu's house, and you're my Mitra (friend).
Thus we've come to perform your puja (seva), and although we're anxious for
your saṅga, why are you neglecting us?"
25
Krishna addresses Śrīmatī: "O bright-faced One! Because you're bewildered, you
don't know what's going on. Listen to me: This Punnaga (Puruṣottama) is
sometimes united with the Mālatī-vine (the Gopīs) and sometimes not. Everything
depends on the favorable winds."
Ṭīkā: Krishna chides that the Lata (Radha) depends on the wind (the Sakhīs) to unite with the Punnaga (Himself). "Since your sakhis arrange Our milana - they're at fault for not doing so." But these words carry a subtle warning: "If your Sakhis don't hurry up and perform their duty, then the unfavorable winds (Chandrāvalī's Sakhis) may arrive to cause a storm.
26 Krishna: "Hey Sundari! Everyone knows that Mahārāja Kandarpa owns this forest ; and Mahārāja gladly entrusts me to protect it. But you're arrogantly taunting the forest-ranger by plundering the forest's beauty with your two golden Jugs of youth; so I'll teach you a lesson! Aha! I'll steal these two golden jugs to vanquish your pride!"