100-102 Decorating Radha's feet
Verse
100
Around Radha's ankles, Vishakha places jeweled bangles that tinkle like the
sound of chatak birds. They steal the patience of Krishna's swan-like mind and
ears!
Rasa-tarangini Tika:
Srila Gopala Guru Goswami's Arcana-paddhati lists Vishakha Devi's seva as
vastra-alankara, decorating with jewels. The previous verses provide plenty
of evidence for this. Vishakha was born on the same day as Radha. Hence their
nitya ages are both 14 years, two months and 15 days. Indeed, Vishakha is most
like Srimati in every respect-even her personality is vama madhya like Radha. A
vama madhya nayika possesses a moderate degree of jealous, loving pride.
Vishakha's dress is star-clustered, and her body is the color of a champak flower. Her father is Pavana, Dakhina is her mother, and the name of her husband is Bahuka. In Gaura lila, she appears as Sri Ramananda Raya.
Verse 101
Then Vishakha takes the famous ankle bells named Ratna-gopur ("that are
an abode of effulgence") and gently places them on Rai Rangini's lotus feet.
Their sound is madhura, for they are the school-mistresses who teach the
Yamuna's swans the art of sonorous quacking.
Rasa-tarangini Tika:
Krishna-bhavanamrita described that the trijagat-madhuri ("total sweetness of
the three worlds") has taken the form of Radha's anklebells so that it can
dance! Their runu-junu, runu-junu sound calls out to the pious, "Just praise
the glories of Rai-vinodini's sri charana padma!" (Krishna-bhavanamrita, 2.95)
In Krishna-bhavanamrita, one other important seva is mentioned-decorating the bottom of Radha's feet with red alta. Although the question may arise: "Why do the clever sakhis do so? Aren't Radharani's feet naturally red?" In answer, the following analogy given: Surya Deva is the source of fire, yet his worship is performed by a mere ghee lamp. Similarly, to worship Radha's crimson lotus feet, red alta is used. And seeing them attractively decorated, one can imagine-"Surya desired sayujya mukti, i.e., to merge in oneness. Thus he merged with Radha's charana kamala in the form of this alta!"Then Lalita says, "Hey alta! Don't be depressed for failing to increase the redness of Radha's lotus feet. Hereafter, your fortune will increase. When Krishna comes to take their shelter, you will make a red stain that will appear on his forehead!" (Krishna-bhavanamrita, 2.96-98)
Verse 102
Sudevi places rings on Radhika Devi's tows; their effulgence and wonderful
craftsmanship would even astonish the Creator!
Rasa-tarangini Tika:
Everything within the creation is material, yet Srimati's ornaments are all
transcendental. Therefore, every item of Radha's shringar far surpasses the beauty and
effulgence of any worldly object.
Sudevi is Radha's eighth sakhi. She is the twin sister of Rangadevi. Her
outfit is the color of a red jaba flower; and her bodily hue resembles a lotus
pod.
Like Lalita, her personality is vama prakhara; her nitya age is 14 years, two months and four days. Sudevi's father is Ranga-sagara and her mother is Karuna. She is married to the younger brother of Vakre-khon (Rangadevi's husband). Sudevi's seva is bringing water. In Gaura lila she appears as Sri Vasudeva Ghosh.

