67-87 Shaibya’s Arrival
Verse
67
Just then Chandravali's sakhi, Shaibya, arrives and places Chandravali's gunja
necklace around Krishna's neck. Shaibya is eager to take him to Chandravali's
kunja, but her heart becomes pinched seeing Radha's sakhi, standing beside
Vrinda!
Tika: Padma and Shaibya are leading sakhis in Chandravali's jutha. Previously, they have brought Chandravali to a suitable sanketa kunja. Then, while Padma and the others remain waiting with Chandravali, Shaibya is sent out to find Krishna. And seeing him from a distance, Shaibya joyfully comes to garland Krishna with Chandravali's gunja locket.
Suddenly she realizes her msijudgement upon seeing Tulasi and considers: "Uh-oh! I should've first hidden myself to observe the situation! Now Tulasi will report Chandravali's news to Radha! Oh what a tragedy! Chandravali's desires will be foiled! Hay! Why didn't I come sooner? Now perhaps Chandravali could even become disgraced!"
Verse 68-70
Shaibya guesses that surely Radha must be nearby, since her priya sakhi,
Tulasi, has already arrived. Although pained at heart, she deigns happiness and
replies, "Hey Tulasi! Today my sakhi Chandravali is celebrating Durga-puja; she
has sent me to invite Radha. But after going to Radha's home, and after
searching in the forest also, I haven't found her. So I'm lucky to meet you;
can you please tell me where Radha is?"
Tika: Srila Kaviraj Goswami mentions Durga-puja, and Sri Yadunandana's translation reveals that Chandravali performs Badra-kali worship. Badra-kali is one of Goddess Durga's various forms. All of the Vrajasundaris worship some God or Goddess as an excuse to meet Krishna and thus, Radha worships Surya.
Shaibya tries to cover up for her mistake. She pretends that her arrival has nothing to do with Chandravali's meeting Krishna. Rather, she has come to invite Radha to Chandravali's festival. Thus she hops to protect Chandravali's prestige and cleverly tricks Tulasi into disclosing Radha's whereabouts. If Shaibya succeeds, she will be in a good position to foil Radha Krishna's jugala-milan.
Verse 71-74
Tulasi perceves Shaibya's trickery and decides to outwit her. Thus accepting
the logic that one should 'deceive a deceiver', she replies, "Oh Shaibya! Today
Radha has been invited to Syamala's Sakhi Ambika festival. But when we arrived
there, Shyamala placed the responsibility of arranging the function on our
shoulders. For this reason, Lalita sent me to bring Vrinda. And just now we're
leaving for Shyamala's house after collecting some flowers, fruits and
garlands!"
Tika: Tulasi thus dupes Shaibya, remains indifferent towards Krishna, and
leaves with Dhanishtha and Vrinda.
Here we observe another quality of the manjaris: they are
murtimati-vaidagdhi-svarupa-the personification of cleverness. At this crucial
moment, Radha s fate for the entire day depends upon Tulasi's manuevering
capacity. Keeping Radha's prestige in the forefront, Tulasi s cunning mounts
Shaibya on an immaginary dream-horse and departs. Later when Chandravali will
discover that she's been stood up, the manjaris will smile with Radha's victory
intoxiction!
Verse 75-78
In order to support Tulasi, Krishna feigns indifference towards her, but He
also encourages Shaibya by hinting to wait a moment for Tulasi's departure.
Then Krishna speaks. "Oh Shaibya! Tell me about your priya sakhi; where is my
dearest Chandravali, and what is she doing?"
Shaibya ecstatically replies, "Oh Krishna! Chandravali's shashuri (mother in law) had locked her indoors today. But luckily we could bring her under the pretext of Durga-puja. She's now anxiously waiting for you at Sakhi-sthali along with Padma and the others. They've sent me ahead to find you."
Tika: Radha and Chandravali are cousins. Vrishabhanui Raja's brother, Chandrabhanu, is Chandravali's father. Chandravali's shashuri is Bharunda, and her husband's name is Govardhan-Malla. Radha's husband Abhimanyu is Malla's best friend. Sakhi-stali is well known as Chandravali's sanket-kunja. It is located near Govardhan in the present day village named Sakhira.
Verse 79-80
Krishna's mind is churning. Although inwardly disappointed, he feigns happiness
in a quick-witted attempt to increase Shaibya's happiness and protect his
loving relationship with Chandravali. Thus he says, "Oh Sakhi Shaibhye! I'm
anxious to meet Chandravali. So my desire will be fulfilled if you take her to Gauri
Tirtha where our elders won't be able to interfere."
Tika: Krishna says: "Oh Shaibhye! My older brother and the sakhas are close by in this forest. So, why don't you do one thing -take Chandravali far away to Gauri-tirtha so that we may meet without being discovered." Thus Catur-curamani (Krishna) prepares to move towards Radha's sarasi-kunda without the fear of contention from Chandravali's party. Those who can relish the madhurya of Lila-purushottam Sri Krishna's cheating propensity are fortunate. Gauri Tirtha is on the outskirts of Vraja Mandal three miles south of the village known as Paitha. So it is there a kunda surrounded by a kadamba forest.
Verse 81
Krishna repeatedly tells Shaibya: "Oh Sakhi! I'm keeping my cows grazing in the
forest named Pramod-radha. So it might take awhile to get free from my duties.
Please keep Chandravali waiting at Gauri Tirtha."
Tika: Krishna's words carry a hidden meaning that Shaibya cannot fathom: "My senses are completely absorbed in the Pramoda-radha forest, i.e., the place where Radha experiences joy! Therefore, please keep Chandravali far away!"
Verse 82-87
Next Madhumngala conjures another excuse to be late and address Krishna: "Oh
Priya Sakha! Aren't you going to follow Vraja Raja Nanda's advice?"
Krishna replies, "Oh right you are Madhu; I almost forgot! Vasudev has sent a
message to my father saying that Kamsa Raja's soldiers might come to Vrindavan
to steal our cows today! We just heard this warning from Dhanishtha. So we'll
have to keep all of the cowherd boys alert! Therefore, oh Shaibya! If I'm a
little late today due to inconvenience, please don't be grieved-I'll surely be
coming as soon as possible!"
Thus Krishna deceives Shaibya and pretends to return back to the sakhas. Meanwhile, Shaibya enthusiastically returns to Chandravali.