Stavāvalī and the locket meditation

Then Rūpa Mañjarī told the others:
"This locket needs some repaier; let me fix it and tomorrow I'll place it over Svāminī's chest."
Sādhaka dāsī: So, did she fix it?
Rādhā: I don't know, but when I picked up a mirror to look, I noticed many blue sapphires set around the border of the locket.

Sādhaka dāsī: Did you ask Rūpa for explanation?
Rādhā: Yes I did, and she replied: "Oh Svāminī, our kanaka haṁsinī is nourished by the blue lotus, and without the nīla kamala She can't survive. Thus we supply Her needs."
(Rādhā pauses, but reflecting upon Rūpa's sentiment, tears come to the sādhaka-dāsī's eyes)."
Hey dāsī, as I am thinking of tonight's Rāsa, my patinece is fleeting! Viśakhā's kuñja will surely provide a wonderful setting. but can you do one thing?

Sādhaka dāsī: Sure I'll do whatever you want.
Rādhā: Hey dāsī, that new song that Viśakhā sang was fabulous; if you can sing it tonight, my pleasure will be boundless!
Sādhaka dāsī: Rāi-Kiśorī, I am just a novice, and there are so many sakhīs who...
Rādhā: Nā, nā! I heard your singing, and I think it's great!
Sādhaka dāsī: But how can I ...

Rādhā: Look, if you sing that song when Śyāmasundara embraces me, I will never forget you!
Sādhaka dāsī: Only by your mercy it is possible.
Rādhā: Yes, yes, take my blessings, and if you do it just right, I will present you this locket.
Sādhaka dāsī: Oh Svāmini, please bless me so that I can always satisfy you. I don't want anything else.

(As the sādhaka dāsī ponders on Rādhā's karuṅāmṛta and feels Her hopes resting on her, she accepts the chalenge.)

This is an example of svarasikī bhajana. When the rāgānuga sādhaka meditates on the descriptions in the Gosvāmīs books,

• he envisions his mañjarī form - svarūpa - given by guru (guru datta) - guru datta mañjarī svarūpa,
• and mentally enters the līlā to perform mānasā sevā.

Śrīman Mahāprabhu teaches Himself in Caitanya Caritāmṛta (2.8.229)

siddha-dehe cinti' kare tāhāṅi sevana
sakhī-bhāve pāya rādhā-kṛṣṇera caraṇa

Envision the perfect body and perform service there (in the spiritual Vrindavan)
in the mood of a girlfriend (of Rādhā), and you will attain the feet of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

Govinda Līlāmṛta is meant for such sādhanā and the gosvāmis themselves have set an example how to perform it in Vilāpa Kusmāñjali, Rādhā Rāsa Sudhānidhi.

Sometimes one śloka alone can supply inspiration for hours of mānasī sevā. The previous pastime has resulted form meditating on Śrī Raghunātha dāsa gosvāmī's prayer in Stavāvalī:

kuhū kaṇṭhī kaṇṭhād api kamana-kaṇṭhī mayi punar
viśākhā gānasyāpi ca rucira śikṣāṁ praṇayatu
yathhaṁ tenaitad yuva yugalam ullāsya sa-gaṇāl
labhe rāse tasmān maṇi padaka hārān iha muhuḥ (5)

"I pray that Viśākhā, whose voice is sweeter than the cuckoos',
will teach me the art of beautiful singing, with which
I can please the youthful Couple and Their girlfriends during
the Rāsa-dance and I will always get golden jewelled lockets from Them as reward."

Finally Śrī Raghunātha says:
priya saro girīndrau tat prekṣā lalita rati-datve smara manaḥ

"O mind! Remember my beloved Rādhākuṇḍa and Giri-Govardhana
as the bestowers of the darśana of and the lovely attraction to Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa!"