At the Goshala
Madhurika's Kathamrita
In Krishna-bhavanamrita, Madhurika continues to describe Krishna's morning pastimes to Radha and her sakhis: When approaching the goshala with the sakhas, Krishna's body moves like a soft dark cloud. And the Kaustubha mani on his chest beams like the sun peeking through this beautiful cloud.
At the same time, Krishna's chador moves over it ecstatically like a restless streak of lightning! Krishna's vaijayanti mala (garland that contains at least five different colored flowers and hangs down as far as the feet) swings back and forth touching his ankle bells. And perhaps it's thinking:
"Although I'm privileged to rest on Krishna's chest, these ankle bells are more fortunate-for they remain attached to his lotus feet!' Thus the vaijayanti mala kisses them again and again!"
When Krishna arrives at the goshala, he sits down outside on a mandap. Then while pretending to wait for the sakhas, he thinks, "Where are the Vraja kishoris, and what are they up to now?"
Thus Krishna's eyes roam to the rooftops to search for them! Moreover, Krishna's charming appearance increases as these boys whisper into his ear; he nods his head and delicately smiles as he ecstatically relishes their words! Oh sakhi Radhe! You may know-the topic of this conversation is nothing other than Krishna's vilasa keli with you!"
Verse 37 -40
Krishna Chandra enters the goshala with Balaram and Madhumangal, looking like
the moon accompanied by Venus and Jupiter appearing in the sky!
Rasa-tarangini Tika:
Krishna is being compared to the moon, Balaram to Shukra (Venus), and
Madhumangal to Brihaspati (Jupiter).
Verse 38
When the devatas observing these pastimes from the sky see Balaram surrounded
by a herd of white kama dhenus, (heavenly cows, or surabhis, who fulfill all
desires) they compare the scene to Indra's elephant Airavata resting on the
snow-white peak of Kailasa!
Verse 39
And when Krishna appears in their midst, the kama dhenus lift their heads. Now
the devatas make the following comparison, "Ah! This black bumblebee is
nestling in a cluster of white lotus flowers!"
Verse 40
Sri Gokulananda calls each cow individually by name, "Hey Ganga! Hey Godavari!
Hey Shabali! Hey Kalindi! Hey Dhabali! Hey Dhumre! Hey Tungi! Hey Bhramari! Hey
Jamune! Hey Hamsi! Hey Kamale! Hay Rambhe! Hey Campe! Hey Karani! Hey Harini!"
Verse 41
Placing his weight on his toes and the milk pail between his knees, Nandanandan
milks some of the cows, while others are milked by the sakhas, all the while
looking at him. Sri Krishna has other cows feed their own calves while he
lovingly scratches them behind their ears. In this way, Krishna finds joy in
bringing pleasure to the cows.
Tika:
Just as a honey bee makes a sweet buzzing sound and collects pollen by soaring
from one flower to the next, Krishna moves among his cows, uttering, "hi-hii,
hi-hii," and calling out their individual names with affection!