114 Krishna Meets Madhumangal

Rasa-tarangini Tika:
Let's return to Krishna-bhavanamrita where another lila unfolds in this time period. As we left off, Krishna was training a baby parrot to perform Radha nama kirtan. But thereafter, he joins Madhumangal, and the following conversation ensues:

Krishna: "Oh priya-sakha! Where were you this morning? It seems like ages since I've seen you. Oh, today you really missed out! Our wrestling match was better than ever; I've never seen such skill-our wrestling match must be the world's best! Then I displayed my gymnastic talents, and all of the sakhas repeatedly praised me. But when I got down on my knees like a tortoise, everyone climbed on top of me and then came back down again!"
Madhumangal replies, "Hey sakha! Unfortunately, you haven't seen my fantastic wrestling ability! But today you'd be even more surprised to know about what I was studying."

Krishna: "What were you studying?"
Madhumangal: "Astrology."
Krishna: "From whom?
Madhumangal: "From Sri Bhaguri Muni."
Krishna: "What's the result?"
Madhumangal: "Clairvoyancy!"
Krishna: "Oh, can you tell me what I'm thinking?"
Madhumangal: "Just wait! In a few moments, I'll reveal everything!"
Krishna: "How is that possible?"
Madhumangal: "By calculating the rising astrological sign."

Thus speaking, Batu begins to count the notches on his fingers and draw lines on the ground. He repeatedly pretends to be thinking deeply as he looks up into the sky and revolves his head this way and that. Then with a confident grin, he replies, "Hey Priya-sakha! Hey Krishna Chandra! Just listen, there is a beautiful valley beneath a large mountain having two enchanting lakes. On these clear lakes swims a very special gold female swan (svarNa-haGsinI). And now you're anxiously pondering about how to capture her. Yet she isn't attainable because she is protected by her retinue. Still, you're contemplating the means to capture her, but unfortunately, she isn't providing you the chance. Hey sakha! This is the enlightenment that I've acquired from my brilliant astrological calculation!"

Krishna replies, "Oh great pandit! You've rightly understood my mind! But will I be able to catch this swan today? Please calculate and see."
Madhumangal is silent and puts on another show of calculating. Then he replies, "Hey Krishna! I've just realized the means to capture that swan! You can take shelter of a colorless (vivarnagra) tree trunk (shakha); and to enchant that beautiful hamsini you must play your mohana vamshi. Then you can catch her in a secluded place and fully enjoy her company! After all, your melodious flute can allure all types of birds and animals!"
The inner meaning is this: "If you take shelter of someone whose name begins with vi and ends with shakha (i.e., Vishakha), then with her assistance, you will easily capture the golden swan named Radhika with your attractive flute call!"

Madhumangal continues: "Hey Krishnaji! I've given my forecast; so please present your due remuneration! Remember my fatigue of calculating. You saw with your own eyes the toil of my fingers, plus how I overtaxed my brain!"
Krishna answers, "Oh king of the fortune tellers! Here is your reward." Batu eagerly holds out both hands and Krishna fills them with pomegranate seeds. The greedy Batu quickly eats everything and says, "Hey sakha! Why did you honor a learned brahmin the same way as a little parrot. Does this befit someone of your good judgment?"
Krishna answers, "Hey friend! This dvija (bird) recited Narayan's name. You are also a dvija (brahmin) by whose mercy Narayan is attainable. Thus you are both equally worshipable!" The inner meaning is: "This small bird recited Radha's name, and you have revealed the means to meet Radha-therefore I'm rewarding both of you equally."

Krishna then continued, "Because you are more learned, however, I'll give you the whole pomegranate!" Krishna places it in Batu's hands. This pleases Madhumangal, and he offers Krishna a blessing: "Hey priya sakha! As you have fed an honest, highly qualified brahmin an unsevered pomegranate, today two pomegranates will come into your grasp! So take the brahmin's nectar blessings and enjoy your boon-for good luck will be with you, and your desired happiness will be fully attained!"
The inner meaning is: "Oh friend! With my ambrosial blessings, you will attain Radhika's pomegranate-like breasts and her dvijali ("teeth") will grace you! In other words, she will satiate all of your desires!"
At this time Mother Yashoda joins Krishna and escorts him inside to take his morning bath. (Krishna-bhavanamrita 6.3-24)

Verse 114
As a result of Sri Rupa Goswami's mature seva aroused by drinking the madhu of Sri Chaitanyadeva's lotus feet, the request of Sri Raghunath Das, the association of Sri Jiva and the benediction of Sri Raghunath Bhatta, here ends the third chapter of Sri Govinda-lilamrita, entitled Prabhatika-vilasa.Rasa-tarangini Tika:Sri Yadunandana Thakur adds:

ei to kahilo kṛṣṇera randhanera karma
jāhā śuni tṛpta hoy śravaṇera marma
saṅkṣepe kahinu ihā ke kore bistāra
śré govinda lilāmṛte āchaye pracāra
kṛṣṇa dāsa kavirājera brajete basati
sākṣāte dekhiyā sab bistarila ati
tāhāra caraṇe koṭi praṇati āmāra
jāhā hoite kṛṣṇa līlāra pracāra

Thus I have described the pastimes of cooking for Krishna; hearing this amrita katha will satisfy the ears. Although I have spoken only briefly, who could elaborately describe Govinda-lilamrita's topics? Sri Krishna Das Kaviraj is an eternal Vrajavasi, and having directly seen these lilas, he describes them in detail. Therefore, I offer a million pranams unto his lotus feet, for Krishna's lilas are being broadcast by his mercy.As Srila Kaviraj Goswami is Radharani's intimate maidservant, Sri Kasturi Manjari, he is the ideal person to write Govinda-lilamrita.