73-78 The Sakhas’ Activities

Meanwhile, after a brief rest, the sakhas hurry home to dress up for their forest cowherding adventures with Krishna. But as their mothers dress them, each sakha becomes impatient to see Krishna again. Thus, they exclaim: "Oh Janani (Mother)! Why are you binding me at home just to put tilak on my forehead? I can't join my Priya-sakha! By now surely all of my friends have joined him. They must be waiting for me on the path! Oh Janani! Let me go! I want to cool my eyes by looking at Gokula-juba Raja's moon-like face!"

Hearing such pleas, their mothers reply: "Oh son! Don't be so jittery. You can soon join your friends. Just see, all of your ornaments are in place. Only your rakha-mani has to be tied to your writs. And now that is complete too! Oh child! The sound of Krishna's mooing cows still hasn't come. Therefore, your friends haven't joined with him yet! Why are you so nervous? Look, if you don't dress nicely, but go like a beggar's son, then all of your friends (who have been nicely dressed by their mothers) will laugh at you!"

But the sakhas take their mother's advice like a jail sentence. And thus, upon hearing the slightest sound, they exclaim, "Here comes my friends now!" and anxiously look towards the forest path.
Then Sudama, Vasudama, Kinkini, Subala and all of the others arrive at Krishna's house, like a wave of ecstasy rolling to the shore within an ocean of bliss! But an elderly gopa comes from the goshala, and says, "Oh boys! Nanda Maharaj is sending his instructions. Please listen carefully. Krishna is still sleeping, so don't wake him yet! I'm personally releasing the cows from their pens, so just wait a little while."

Hearing the instruction, most of the boys directly proceed into the goshala where Nanda Maharaj is waiting, although, some of the sakhas (headed by Subala) sneak over to Krishna's bedroom.
Meanwhile, in another part of the house, the servants Raktak, Patrak, and others meet with Mother Yashoda; their steadfast prema for Krishna never wavers. Yashomati presents them a wooden box filled with Krishna's favorite types of sweets that are just like the fruit on the tender creeper of her vatsalya affection. Thus the servants carry the box upon their shoulders like a treasure chest, and guard it as though it were dearer than a million lives.

Another servant carries moonstone flask that is covered by a red silken cloth, and inside is Krishna's camphorized drinking water. Thus one might guess: "Is this dasa concealing the precious jewel of his heart's melting anuraga?"

Another servant carries Krishna's pan in a crystal jar. Yet seeing his behavior, one might consider: "Surely he's clasping his most worshipable devata- for his attention is completely fixed on this dazzling decanter!" There is another servant carrying extra ornaments and clothes for Krishna which appear like the subjugating potion for the damsels of heaven.

Krishna Sneaks Back Home

 Meanwhile, at the Nadishvara cave, Krishna hears the excited clamor of the sakhas and quickly separates himself from Radhika's sweet embrace! But when Krishna returns, he is wearing Radhika's kunkum-colored orana! And seeing his blunder, the priya-narma sakhas tease:
"Oho! Couldn't the lightning give up the sweet cloud's association? Is Radharani still embracing our cloud-complexioned Shyamasundar in the form of this garment?"
Then, as the sakhas notice Radha's scratches on Krishna's body and joke further, their smiles resemble a shower of flower petals mixed with the moonrays! Next, after removing the marks, the sakhas escort Krishna to Mother Yashoda's quarters.

Dressing for the Goshtha

73-77 Then the best servants suitably dress Krishna for goshtha-bihara (cowherding in the forest). They rub scented oil on his body and decorate him with garlands and ornaments. Using their fingers, they put on Krishna's special tilak. They paint his body with colored earthen minerals, chandan and decorate him with flowers too. Next, Krishna's head is bedecked with a peacock feather crown, and they place rings on his fingers inscribed with the name "Krishna.' 

Dolphin earrings are hung from Shyamasundar's ears, then a gunja necklace, a jeweled necklace, a vaijayantii mala and the Kaustubha-mani are placed over his broad chest. The servants next put on Krishna's angada (armlets), bangles and enticing anklebells that sweetly tinkle. A necklace of lage pearls is also placed on Krishna's chest which will reflect Gandharvika's image. 

Krishna's jeweled murali is tucked into the right of his sash, and a buffalo horn hangs from the left. He holds his yellow lagudi stick in his left hand and twirls a svarna-padma in his right. Thus, joining his smiling sakhas (who are similarly dressed and showing frolicsome behavior), Vrajendra-nandana starts for the forest as he churns the minds of the doe-eyed Vraja kishoris.

Rasa-tarangini Tika: In Krishna-bhavanamrita, it is described as the priya-narma sakhas dress Krishna in gopa-besha (cowherding apparel). And after completing the sringara, they consider: "The beautiful cloud of Kanai's body offsets his bright sun-like Kaustubha-mani, his peacock feather headpiece looks like a rainbow, and the honey bees swarming around his fragrant vaijayanti mala resound like the Vedic hymns!"

78 As a result of Sri Rupa Goswami's mature seva aroused by drinking the madhu at Sri Chaitanyadeva's lotus feet, the request of Raghunath Das, the assocaition of Sri Jiva and the benediction of Sri Raghunath Bhatta, the fourth chapter of Govinda-lilamrita entitled "Pratah-bhojan keli' is complete.