
Kṛṣṇa’s Snāna and Śrīngara
Because Mother Yaśodā still feeds Kanu her breast milk, she is unaware of his attraction for the gopīs. Thus it isn't surprising that she innocently engages her dasīs (or sometimes even the mañjarīs) in Kṛṣṇa's intimate aṅga sevā. In Sankalpa-kalpa-druma. Śrī Vishwanath Cakravartipada (Vinoda Vallari Mañjarī) eagerly desires to take advantage of Yaśodā's naivete as follows:
"Hey Vrāja Devi Radhike! Kṛṣṇa's return from the forest dips Yashomati in a wave of pleasure! Thus tears and milk will stream from her eyes and breasts
to saturate her son! Then for Kṛṣṇa's bath she will engage her household dasis—and even ask me to help! Thus I shall ecstatically thank Vrajeshavri within my mind."
Kṛṣṇa-bhavanamrita's
previous narration happens on a different day because Tulasi has just returned from Nandālaya. But in Govinda-līlāmṛta's version Tulasi just left.
9 When Dhaniṣṭhā, Tulasi and Kasturi arrive, delivering Rādhikā's sweets, Ma Yaśodā takes the sweets out of the box and places them in different serving
containers.
Upon seeing each confection, Vrajeśvarī expresses delight, and then she asks Tulasi and Kasturi to help sort them in golden bowls.
10 Yaśodā adds some prepārations
that were made in her home. Then she calls for the brahmin kumara pūjaris to offer the bhoga to the deity of Lord Narayan.
Nanda Maharaj engages attractive, young brahmin boys to look after his griha devata,
Śrī Narayan. Madhumangal is in charge of seva pūja.
11-12 Nandarani's servants moisten Rama and Kṛṣṇa's bodies with water, massage them with oil and scented powder called udvartana. Next they are bathed and dressed in new cloths. Then the servants comb their hair, put on their tilak, rub kunkum, aguru and other fragrances onto their bodies, offer garlands and put on their ornaments. After the shringar, Kṛṣṇa, Balaram and Madhumangal sit down to a light meal.
Ṭīkā: Kṛṣṇa's servants eagerly take charge. Saranga puts on his white snāna vastra. Sugandha,
Subandha and Karpura rub his body with scented Narayan oil, remove it with udvartana and rub amālāki oil into his hair. Then Kana is bathed with golden lotas filled with scented rose-water by Payoda and Varida; Raktaka
and Patraka dry him afterwards with soft towels. Kṛṣṇa's pitambara dhoti and chador are put on by Gangeya. Then the duties of combing his hair and putting on tilak are performed by other servants who
also bathe, dress and decorate Balaram and Batu.
13-15 When Kṛṣṇa, Balaram, Batu and the other sakhas are seated, Ma Yaśodā serves coconut pulp, sharbats (fruit-drinks), rasala
and sliced fruits. Then she offers Rādhikā's sweets such as piyusha granthi, karpura, keli, amrita keli and laddus. At the end pushpanna is served. During bhojan everyone laughs with Madhu's joking! Then
Kṛṣṇa and other wash their mouths and go to take a brief nap.
