Krishna pretending being Radha 

After Anāṅga Vilāsa, Krishna's desire awakens to dress Radha exactly like himself. Thus he orders the Mañjarīs to rub krishna-aguru and black kasturi (deer musk) all over Anāṅga -raṅginī Rai's body. Then the Mañjarīs dress Radhika with Krishna's Pītāmbara and decorate her body with Krishna's ornaments. And finally, they tuck Krishna's flute into Radha's waist-sash. But Radha re-dresses Krishna as he previously appeared and goes to sit on a tiger skin placed over Kuśa grass. 

Then maintaining silence, Radha begins chanting on a Rudra Mālā, and Krishna sits beside her on another āsana. Meanwhile, from outside the kuñja mandir the jingling of Nūpura and Kiṅkiṇī Mālās are heard as the sakhis approach. Krishna signals the Mañjarīs to keep all matters a secret. But upon arriving, the Sakhīs become struck with wonder, and begin conversing: "Oh Sakhi! Which province have we entered? Here we find two Krishna's, not one!"

Another sakhi replies, "Look! Both are the same Tamāl Śyāma color! Both have peacock feathers in their hair and both sport flower malas and wear Pītāmbara attire! Aho! They're Both stealing our patience!"

As the sakhis' bewilderment increases they ask the Mañjarīs: "One of these Krishnas is certainly our Sakhi Radha- but which one is she -we're unable to discern; can you tell us?"
The Mañjarīs reply: "We've just arrived-so we don't know either; we're afraid to ask them! 

Then Vṛndā slowly begins speaking: "Hey Lalite! I think that the Krishna chanting with the Rudra mālā seated on the tiger skin must be real -to enjoy nitya Vilāsa with Radha, he has made her exactly like himself using his mantras!" Vishakha says, "Vṛnde! Bhagavatī Paurṇamāsī is the root of our problem. Just see! This lusty debauch made Radha just like himself! And who will be next, I don't know?"
Chitra replies, "Hey Vṛnde ! Listen, when we return home and meet Jaṭilā, she will ask: "Where is my Bau-mā?" Then what will we say? Oh no! What a catastrophe!"

Nāndīmukhī says, "Hey Citre! Don't worry, surely Krishna will change Radha back to normal before it's time to go home. But as Krishna continues his mantra-chanting, I don't think that it's safe to leave Radha sitting beside him; who knows what mischief lurks in Krishna's mind? So let's take back our priya Sakhi elsewhere."

Taking Nāndīmukhī's advice, the Sakhis believe that the Krishna chanting with the Rudra-mālā must be real. Thus they speak in unison: "Hey Kalānidhi Krishna! Hey Kalābati Radhe! We can understand who is who? Now it's time to change your costumes." they address Krishna: "Hey Radhe! Why did you dress yourself like a lusty Nagara? Just give up this nonsense! Krishna can remain sitting on the tiger-skin chanting mantras-but let's go out of here immediately! Hay! Hay! How inauspicious it has been to leave home today!"

Feigning shyness, Krishna imitates Radha's voice and replies, "Oh Lalite! I'm embarrassed to tell you what happened today! But if you come with me to a secluded place, I'll reveal everything by whispering into your ear. Oh sakhi Lalite, I can't trust anyone except you!" When the sakhis hear Radha's voice coming from Krishna's lips, they assume: "Oh, this must be our priya sakhi Radha," and thus they come to surround Krishna. But after taking Krishna outside, they begin touching him. One sakhi feels his hand and says, "Oh! This hand is just like Krishna's."

Someone touches his feet and replies, "Oh! These feet are like Krishna's!" Someone else says, "This face feels just like Krishna's, too!" Thus everyone comes to the same conclusion. So the sakhis frankly question: "O Radhe! All your limbs exactly resemble Krishna's-only your voice remains unchanged. Please tell us what happened? As the sakhis touch Krishna's body they are overcome by erotic desires, yet due to shyness, no one questions about the matter. Inwardly, however, each sakhi begins contemplating: "How amazing! Even though this is Śrīmatī dressed like Krishna-still Cupid is attacking me!"

Krishna continues imitating Radha's voice and answers, "Hey sakhi! Krishna put me in a trance with his mantras. Then what happened next, I don't know? After being unconscious for a long time, I suddenly awoke! But when Krishna set beside me and performed ācaman. He took a few drops of water in his hand, recited some mantras and rubbed the water over my entire body. Even though I repeatedly forbade him, he didn't listen to me. I was astonished-my body became just like his! But luckily my mouth was closed when he cast his mantra-water over me-hence my voice hasn't changed. And what happened next...
I'm embarrassed to say-yet without telling anyone-I'm unable to remain patient! So what can I do?

Back to Chapter 9 - Govinda līlāmṛta