80-91 Nava Graha Pūjā (The worship of Nine Planets)

80 Kundalata then steps forward to please Krishna, saying: "Hey Madhava! If you want to succeed in this auspicious yajna, just worship nine planets-there is no need to follow any other injunction."

Ṭīkā: Kundalata wishes to state: "The Pañca Devata Puja was a flop! Oh well, without wasting any further time let's begin the worship of Nine planets before this śubha lagna (auspicious moment) departs. If they are properly worshipped one attains sarva siddhi (all perfection).

81-82 Krishna answers, "Oh Kundalate! How does one worship the nine planets? Please instruct me! Using eye gestures, Kundalata directs Krishna's attention to Radha's various bodily limbs, saying "Madhava, the nine planets are Radha's lips, two eyes, two cheeks, two breasts, forehead and face. Their puja is called Nava-graha-pūjā So if you want to satisfy them, just offer your bandhulī flower lips. (In other words, kiss Radha in these nine places!)"

Ṭīkā: Vātsyāyana Muni's Kāma-shastra lists nine places of a ramaṇī's body fit for kissing ; these are the nava graha according to Rasa-acharya Kundalata. When a sundarī ramaṇī is kissed in these nine places she experiences paramānanda and succumbs to the desire of vilāsa. In Jyotiṣa-śāstra the nine planets are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. If these planets align favorably, one's desires become completely fulfilled. Thus Kundalata jokes with Krishna: "If you kiss Radha in these nine places you'll attain sarva siddhi!"

83-87 Radha retorts: "Hey ācārya Kundalate! You can teach your disciple (Krishna) all of these secrets using your own body." Then fearing Krishna, Radha starts to flee -but as her clothes are tied to his-the knot only becomes tighter! Looking over her shoulder, Radha sees that she is tied, and joyfully contemplates: "Aha! My desire is fulfilled." Yet outwardly, she angrily chastises Kundalata, Lalita and Vishakha.

Then while trying to unite herself, Radha exclaims, "In Krishna's sinister dancing assembly Vishakha is the honorable guest, Lalita divides the audience, and Kundalata is the buffoon who invokes the audience's laughter!

Chi, Chi! Although Krishna isn't married, he considers all the others' wives his own! Even Krishna's sakhi, 'modesty', has forsaken him! What disgrace! When dharma is forsaken, life is destroyed at the root! Moreover, our intention in coming to pick flowers has become spoiled. Thus, how can we remain here?"

Krishna tries to stop Radha from loosening the knot; then he begins to kiss her in nine places. But blocking Krishna's advances, Radha tries even harder to loosen herself!

Ṭīkā: Although Radha offers a good resistance, Catura Cūḍamaṇi goes all out to initiate his nava graha puja at any cost! Dhani-maṇi Radha is thrilled beyond control, and thus to control her ecstatic emotions, she shrieks and directs her attention to loosening the knot!

88-89 As the tussle goes on, Lalita proudly steps in, and while feigning anger, rebukes Krishna! Then she unties the knot. Lalita teases: "Krishna! If you marry Radha. How will you be able to meet with all the other Vraja sundarīs? So why don't you tie yourself to your cousin Kundalata instead."

Ṭīkā: During a Vedic wedding ceremony the bride and grooms' garments are tied together.90, 91 Radha frees herself and slips away. But while restlessly moving her eyebrows and sweetly smiling, she says, "Hey Krishna! Your puja acharya, Kundalata, has taken you for a fool-but she's a nitwit too! The first duty is to worship the Dik-pālas. So, your puja is full of blunders!"