
64-69 Kṛṣṇa prepares Rādhā for Sūrya Pūjā
64 As the disguised Kṛṣṇa brāhmaṇa arrives, Jaṭilā greatly honors him. And Kṛṣṇa offers a blessing in return: "May your son be rich with many cows, and your daughter-in-law embraced by good fortune!"
Ṭīkā: Jaṭilā greatest ambition is to see her son, Abhimanyu, attain an equal status with Candravalis husband, Govardhan Malla, who is independently wealthy with a large herd of cows. Thus, this benediction instantly awakens Jaṭilā's steadfast devotion for the dark- complexioned brāhmaṇa kumar.
When Jaṭilā hears of the benediction bestowed upon her daughter-in-law, she is also encouraged, as she thinks it means, "Rādhā will flourish with pati bhakti, i.e. devotion to her husband." In fact, as Rāsamaya Kṛṣṇa smiles at Rādhā, his words convey the message, "If you embrace me, you'll attain all auspiciousness!"
As the brāhmaṇa-clad Kṛṣṇa arrives, in Kṛṣṇa-Bhāvanāmṛta, Jaṭilā respectfully addresses him as follows, "Hey vipra-varya, O best of the brāhmaṇas! My life is blessed by your Darśana. Can you engage my Vadhū in Pūjā?"
With the Pūjā Paddhatī and Kuśha grass in hand, the tranquil Śyāmala Kiśora brāhmaṇa replies,"Hey Vriddhe (old woman)! Even though a brahmacārī should never look upon a woman, I shall engage your vadhū in the Kāma-pūraka-aṁśu Pūjā because she's a famous satī and her head is covered with a veil!"
65-67 As the Pūjā begins, Kṛṣṇa asks Jaṭilā: "What is the name of your putra-vadhū (son's wife)?" Jaṭilā answers, "Rādhā." But Kṛṣṇa become struck with wonder to reply:"Oh! Is this that famous Guṇavatī dhanī maṇi whose ideal chastity is celebrated even in Mathurā purī? Is 'she' your putra vadhū? Oh Vriddhe (old woman)! you're really fortunate!"Then Kṛṣṇa instructs Rādhā: [Jaṭilā understands 'A', but 'B' is for Rādhā.]
A) "Without following the Vedīc vidhi of purohit varaṇa (accepting the priest), I am unable to perform the Pūjā. So to accept me for the Sūrya-mahā-Yajña you must touch me. But because I nevertouch women, just touch me with this Kuśa grass as you recite the mantra."
B) "To perform the Ujjvala-Kāma Yajña you must take off your clothes. After doing so, you can touch the Jagat Pati (me) with the Kuśa (your sharp nails) and recite the mantras (begin rati Krīḍā)!"Rādhā blushes while contemplating Kṛṣṇa command to accept his partnership for Kāmadeva's mahā Yajña!
The mantras
68
A) "I accept Viśva Śarma, who is pure minded and wise as my purohit. He belongs
to the 'Jagat-maṅgala kārī gotra' (the dynasty which bestows fortune to the world)."
B) "I accept the Universal-pleasure-giver as my lover, he is all-auspicious and
expert in the arts of śṛṅgāra Rāsa!"Ṭīkā: The first meaning is for Jaṭilā, the second is for Rādhā. From ancient
times, persons engaged in Pūjā recite the purohit's name, gotra (dynasty, and pravara
(special talents) when accepting him to perform the rituals.
Such purohit's gotra descends from an ancient Ṛṣi such as Bharadvāja, Kāśyapa or Śaṇḍīlya. Thus, as Jaṭilā hears the words jaganmAṅgala krit and shucivit she imagines that these are the names of Ṛṣis. But, actually, Bhagavān belongs to his own gotra which is jaganmaṅgala kṛt (auspicious to the entire universe). Then Kṛṣṇa introduces his pravara (noted talent) as being śūcivit (pure). But the inner meaning is that he is expert in śṛṅgāra*.
69 Then "Viśva Śarma" tells Rādhikā: "Just recite, 'I offer my obeisance unto Mitra (the Sun-god) who is Padminī bandhu (the friend of the lotus), who destroys the darkness with his rays and who become bright red in the morning and evening."
The inner meaning is: "I offer Myself to Mitra (my friend Kṛṣṇa), who is Padminī pati (the lover of the padmimi gopa kiśorīs), whose chest is marked with a svarṇa rekha (Śrīvatsa) which relieves one's Kandarpa-lust and who is a (anurāgī puruṣa) great lover!"