Vrinda as Krishna’s Messenger meets Radha
Thereafter, Radha arrives
at the flower Kuñja named 'Madana-rana-batika' and approaches the Murti of
Surya Deva. Rādhikā folds her hands and devoutly prays: "Hey deva! Please bestow your grace
so that I can easily attain Govinda's lotus feet!"
As Radhika gazes upon Surya deva, his eyes and face appear content; thus, she
surmises that he is pleased with her. Then Rādhikā offers pranams again and
leaves the garden with her sakhis. Lalita requests Tulasi, Dhanishtha and some
of Vrinda's Vanadevis to remain there with the Surya puja paraphernalia.
The forest is filled with Krishna's bodily fragrance which resembles a blue lotus' aroma mixed with musk. Rādhā thus veers with the desire to fly to him like an intoxicated honey-bee! But Radhika-sundari's bodily fragrance defies the aroma of a lotus smeared with vermilion. So when it floats like the ambrosial Ganga waves of enter Madhusudan's nostrils, he shivers in ecstasy and he soars to Radha like an intoxicated male bee!
Perceiving Radha's fragrance Krishna surmises that she is still a long way away. Thus he sends Vrinda to bring her. Following Nikunja Raja's order, Vrinda departs. But seeing her approaching, Radha thinks, "Aha! Surely Krishna has sent Vrinda - she's my good personified!"
Vrinda places two blue lotus flowers in Radha's hands which formerly decorated Krishna's ears. They are encircled by a swarm of honey-bees blinded by his bodily fragrance.The indivara's touch and smell resemble Krishna's touch and smell - hence Radha is overwhelmed!
But because Vrinda is present, with great difficulty she tries
to hide her symptoms and inquires: "Oh Vrinde! From where are you coming?"
Vrinda: "From Krishna's lotus feet."
Radha: "Where is He?
Vrinda: "He is in the forest beside your Kunda."
Radha: "What is he doing there?"
Vrinda: "He's learning to dance."
Radha: "Who is his guru?
Vrinda: "Seeing your murti in every moving leaf, Krishna madly dances from one
to the next (as if he were dancing with you)!"
"Oh Vrinde! You're mistaken! That is not my form inducing Krishna's dance. He's a thirsty bee trapped by the strong bodily aroma of Padma's sakhi, Chandravali! And that's carried by the whirlwind called Shaibya!"
Vrinda replies, "Radhe! Krishna destroyed Trinavarta (the whirlwind demon). But desiring your sanga, or Gauri, his sly words have blown that Shaibya wind (along with Chandravali) all the way to Gauri Tirtha!"
Tika: To conceal her intention, Radha changes the subject, replying: "O Vrinde!
What's the use of such gossip? We're going to follow Jatila's order. Thus we'll
bathe at Shyama Kund, perform Surya puja and go home."
Then Radha inquires: "Oh, by the way, where are you going?"
Vrinda answers, "I'm coming to take shelter of your lotus feet."Radha: "What for?"
Vrinda: "To enhance your kingdom of fortune!"
Radha: "How?"
Vrinda: "Madhava* has advented to increase the forest's opulences, and now only
your merciful glance awaits!"
But outspoken Kundalata says, "O Vrinde! Stop your sly canvassing! Fearing Krishna's atrocities, Jatila placed Radha under my protection. Therefore, I'll take her to bathe at Shyama Kund, and then we shall go to the Surya mandir. But if we see Krishna at Shyama Kund we'll bathe at Manasi Ganga instead. I have promised Jatila that we won't tread in the direction that carries Krishna's bodily odor."
Tika: Kundalata plays the opposing card, making Rādhā a leaf in the playground of the wind-like Sakhīs.
Vrinda exclaims, "Hey Kundalate! Why go to Manasi Ganga fearing Krishna? If you
want to bathe unseen in Shyama Kund, then just take my advice, oh chaste one! Krishna
has become dizzy by Madana's torture- so he is resting in a kunja on Radha
Kund's banks. So if you take the eastern path through the madhavi forest he
won't notice. Then you can bathe undisturbed in Shyama Kund's pure waters which
emerge from the footprints of Arishta-mardana.
Ṭika: Vrinda does not want to appear as the one that is against Rādhā's chastity and would push her in Krishna's arms.