Kṛṣṇa regarding Lalitā as Vaṁśī curī

Vaṁśī Haraṇa Līlā (Das Spiel, die Flöte zu stehlen)

वंशी हरण लीला

Ṭīkā: As Kṛṣṇa becomes overwhelmed in praising his flute's glories, Lalitā's jealous pride is triggered when he says, "Rādhā and the other sakhīs know about these qualities. Thus, finding a loophole in Kṛṣṇa's speech, she begins chiding.

85 Kṛṣṇa retorts: "Aha! Haughty Lalitā is a thorny fort of crooked words! Certainly, this deceiving damsel has stolen my flute. That's why she's slandering its glories, and mine too!"

86 Thus speaking, Kṛṣṇa tries to catch hold of Lalitā's garment! But she steps back, grins, arches her eyebrows and loudly shrieks:

87 "Hey Kṛṣṇa! I'm Lalitā, just remember that! You know about our dealings in the past! So now I'll leave, taking all of the sakhīs with me! Today your deceptive tricks won't succeed!"

Ṭīkā: The meaning is: "Today you won't get the chance to touch all of these pretty gopis under the excuse of searching for your flute!"

88 Thus Lalitā starts to depart, but Kṛṣṇa grabs her orana exclaiming: "Without returning my flute, I won't let you go so easily!

89 Ha Lalite! If you didn't steal my flute-then why are you trying to run away? You may leave or do whatever you like only after showing me that you don't have it on your person!""Lalite! When you're so anxious to run away, certainly you're the Vaṁśī chori! So without allowing a search, I won't let you go! Alright, since I don't touch women, you can remove all of your garments yourself! Then if you can prove yourself innocent you may go home, stay here, or do whatever you like-I won't have any further objection."

90 Lalitā forcibly pulls her garment from Kṛṣṇa's hand, casts a crooked glance and angrily scoffs: "Hey lusty brute! You can search the body of your cousin, Kundalatā!

91 We didn't take your Vaṁśī, or see it either! Alright, if you insist on using force then just tell us the price, you may extract your remuneration from Kundalatā! But if that's insufficient to repay your loss, get you another flute just like it.

92 Hey Kṛṣṇa! We've got two friends, namely, Malli and Bhringi, who are Pulinda women residing near Govardhan. If we ask them, they'll make a new flute and bring it to you."

Ṭīkā: Pulindas are a low-class tribal community. Such women have gross features and are uncivilized. Rādhārani often jokes with Kṛṣṇa that her friend Bhringi or Malli can stand in for her in the sporting matches where physical contact is required.

93 Then Kṛṣṇa replies, "Oh Lalite! Are you saying that Malli and Bhringi are your sakhīs? Have they stolen my flute and thus subjugated all of the other forest tribal women?" Kṛṣṇa pauses for a moment to contemplate, and then feelingly answers, "The Pulinda women are very fortunate because of their attraction for me. They search throughout the forest and gather the kuṅkuma that falls from my feet onto the grass. They smear it on their faces and breasts to relieve their lusty desires. These girls also collect guñjā berries and colored earthen pigments from Govardhan and present them to me. Thus they are my dāsīs. Oh Lalite! Since when have they become your sakhīs?"

Ṭīkā: Although Kṛṣṇa answers Lalitā's teasing words with an air of light joking, there is also a serious mood contained herein that reveals Kṛṣṇa's magnanimity. If anyone renders service to Kṛṣṇa with feeling, no matter how inferior or untouchable they may be, still Kṛṣṇa considers: "I am theirs, and they are mine." This is Kṛṣṇa's firm resolution and subordination to love.

The gopis themselves described the Pulinda women's attraction to Kṛṣṇa in the Gopī-gīta-

pūrṇāḥ pulindya urugāya-padābja-rāga
śrī-kuńkumena dayitā-stana-maṇḍitena
tad-darśana-smara-rujas tṛṇa-rūṣitena
limpantya ānana-kuceṣu jahus tad-ādhim

The Pulinda girls have been freed from the pains of love and completely fulfilled, for when overcome by erotic desire on seeing Kṛṣṇa, they coated their faces and breasts with the saffron powder from his glorious feet, which had adorned the breasts of his beloved and then been smeared on the grasses. (S.B. 10.21.17)

94 "So much for that, O Lalite! As you've reproached me and stolen my Muralī. I'll have to bind and punish you. If anyone thinks they can save you, let them just try!""Lalite, your haughty pride has reached the brink of tolerability! Without fearing me in the least you've snatched my priya Muralī! And to top it off, you think you can slander me with impunity! Aho! It's time to dish out the medicine you so richly deserve!"