By Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode
Śrī Caitanya-śikāmrta, chapter 7, part 7
In this section of Śrī Caitanya-śiksāmrta, Thakur Bhaktivinode discusses Srimati Radharani’s qualities. He includes a list of her twenty-five most prominent qualities that is based on the list, in Sanskrit, given by Srila Rupa Goswami in Ujjvala-nīlamani, and also quoted in Caitanya-caritāmrta madhya 23.91. Bhaktivinode gives direct Bengali translations of the Sanskrit terms, and then in many cases gives a further Bengali explanation.
Radha is the essence of the hlādinī-śakti, the epitome of love. Although she is splendid with sixteen types of decorations and twelve types of ornaments, she is so beautiful that she does not need decorations or ornaments. She has well-curled hair, a shining face, longeyes, splendid breasts, a thin waist, well-formed shoulders, and jewel-like fingernails. There is no such combination of wonderful qualities in all the three worlds. The sixteen beauties of her body are: her bath, the sparkle of the jewel in her nose, her blue dress, her sash, her earrings, her braid, the sandalwood on her body, the flowers in her hair, the garland around her throat, the lotus in her hand, the betel in her mouth, the kastūrī (musk) on her chin, the kajjala on her eyes, her colored cheeks, the lac decorations on her feet, and the tilaka on her forehead. The twelve orna-ments that beautify her are the jewel in her hair, her silver earrings, the belt on her hips, the gold locket around her neck, the gold pin in her ear, the bracelets on her wrists, her throat ornaments, the rings on her fingers, the necklace around her neck, her armbands, her jeweled anklets, and the rings on her toes.
Like Krishna, Vrindavaneshwari Radha is endowed with unlimited good qualities. Of her qualities, twenty-five are prominent: 1)madhurā [cārudarśanā] — she is sweet [she is beautiful in appearance]; 2) nava-vayā [kiśora-vayasa-viśisthā] — she is newly youthful [she is at a special adolescent age]; 3) capalā — she is restless [she has a restless glance]; 4) ujjvala-smitā[ānandamaya hāsyayuktā] — she has an effulgent smile [her smile is blissful]; 5) cārusaubhāgyera rekhāyukta [pādādite candrarekhā]— she possesses beautiful, auspicious lines on her body [her feet have moon-like markings]; 6) gandhe mādhavake unmādita karena — her fragrance drives Madhava mad; 7) sagita-vistāre abhijñā — she is fully conversant in musical composition; 8) ramya-vāk —her speech is pleasing; 9) narma-panditā — she is expert in joking; 10) vinītā — she is humble; 11) karunā-pūrna — she is full of compassion; 12) vidagdhā, caturā — she is witty; 13) pātavānvitā — she is efficient; 14) lajjā-śīlā— she is bashful; 15) sumaryādā [sādhumārgaha-ite avicalitā] — she is respectful [she acts strictly according to the religious principles of the sadhus]; 16) dhairya-śālinī — she is patient; 17) gāmbhīrya-śālinī — she is grave; 18)su-vilāsā — she is playful; 19) mahābhāva-paramotkarsatasinī — she shows symptoms of great ecstasy; 20) gokula-premavasati — she is the object of love for the residents of Gokula; 21) jagat-śrenī-sadyaśā [yāhāra yaśa anantajagate vyāpta] — her fame is spread through unlimited universes; 22) gurv-arpita-guru-sneha, guru-janera atyanta snehāspada — sheis the object of affection for elders; 23) sakhī-ganera pranayādhīna — she is dependent on the love of her gopi friends; 24) krsna-priyāvalīmukhyā — she is the chief of those most dear to Krishna; 25) santatāśrava-keśavā, keśavasarvadā tānhāra ājñādhīna — she always keeps Keshava under her control.
Bibliography
— Bhaktivinode Thakur. Śrī Caitanya-śiksāmrta. Sri Chaitanya Math. Mayapur. Bengali. Gaurabdha 420.
— Bhaktivinode Thakur. Śrī Caitanya-śiksāmrta. English translation by Sri Bhanu Swami. Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education.
— Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmrta. English translation and commentary by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Los Angeles. 1975.
Śrī Caitanya-śikāmrta, chapter 7, part 7
In this section of Śrī Caitanya-śiksāmrta, Thakur Bhaktivinode discusses Srimati Radharani’s qualities. He includes a list of her twenty-five most prominent qualities that is based on the list, in Sanskrit, given by Srila Rupa Goswami in Ujjvala-nīlamani, and also quoted in Caitanya-caritāmrta madhya 23.91. Bhaktivinode gives direct Bengali translations of the Sanskrit terms, and then in many cases gives a further Bengali explanation.
Radha is the essence of the hlādinī-śakti, the epitome of love. Although she is splendid with sixteen types of decorations and twelve types of ornaments, she is so beautiful that she does not need decorations or ornaments. She has well-curled hair, a shining face, longeyes, splendid breasts, a thin waist, well-formed shoulders, and jewel-like fingernails. There is no such combination of wonderful qualities in all the three worlds. The sixteen beauties of her body are: her bath, the sparkle of the jewel in her nose, her blue dress, her sash, her earrings, her braid, the sandalwood on her body, the flowers in her hair, the garland around her throat, the lotus in her hand, the betel in her mouth, the kastūrī (musk) on her chin, the kajjala on her eyes, her colored cheeks, the lac decorations on her feet, and the tilaka on her forehead. The twelve orna-ments that beautify her are the jewel in her hair, her silver earrings, the belt on her hips, the gold locket around her neck, the gold pin in her ear, the bracelets on her wrists, her throat ornaments, the rings on her fingers, the necklace around her neck, her armbands, her jeweled anklets, and the rings on her toes.
Like Krishna, Vrindavaneshwari Radha is endowed with unlimited good qualities. Of her qualities, twenty-five are prominent: 1)madhurā [cārudarśanā] — she is sweet [she is beautiful in appearance]; 2) nava-vayā [kiśora-vayasa-viśisthā] — she is newly youthful [she is at a special adolescent age]; 3) capalā — she is restless [she has a restless glance]; 4) ujjvala-smitā[ānandamaya hāsyayuktā] — she has an effulgent smile [her smile is blissful]; 5) cārusaubhāgyera rekhāyukta [pādādite candrarekhā]— she possesses beautiful, auspicious lines on her body [her feet have moon-like markings]; 6) gandhe mādhavake unmādita karena — her fragrance drives Madhava mad; 7) sagita-vistāre abhijñā — she is fully conversant in musical composition; 8) ramya-vāk —her speech is pleasing; 9) narma-panditā — she is expert in joking; 10) vinītā — she is humble; 11) karunā-pūrna — she is full of compassion; 12) vidagdhā, caturā — she is witty; 13) pātavānvitā — she is efficient; 14) lajjā-śīlā— she is bashful; 15) sumaryādā [sādhumārgaha-ite avicalitā] — she is respectful [she acts strictly according to the religious principles of the sadhus]; 16) dhairya-śālinī — she is patient; 17) gāmbhīrya-śālinī — she is grave; 18)su-vilāsā — she is playful; 19) mahābhāva-paramotkarsatasinī — she shows symptoms of great ecstasy; 20) gokula-premavasati — she is the object of love for the residents of Gokula; 21) jagat-śrenī-sadyaśā [yāhāra yaśa anantajagate vyāpta] — her fame is spread through unlimited universes; 22) gurv-arpita-guru-sneha, guru-janera atyanta snehāspada — sheis the object of affection for elders; 23) sakhī-ganera pranayādhīna — she is dependent on the love of her gopi friends; 24) krsna-priyāvalīmukhyā — she is the chief of those most dear to Krishna; 25) santatāśrava-keśavā, keśavasarvadā tānhāra ājñādhīna — she always keeps Keshava under her control.
Bibliography
— Bhaktivinode Thakur. Śrī Caitanya-śiksāmrta. Sri Chaitanya Math. Mayapur. Bengali. Gaurabdha 420.
— Bhaktivinode Thakur. Śrī Caitanya-śiksāmrta. English translation by Sri Bhanu Swami. Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education.
— Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. Śrī Caitanya-caritāmrta. English translation and commentary by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Los Angeles. 1975.
3 comments:
Radha sadhyam sadhanam yashya Radha
Mantra Radha, Mantradaatri cha Radha
Sarvam Radha jeevanam yasya Radha
Radha Radha vanchitam yasya shesham
I am so glad to see that kirtana is being performed in the wonderful city of San Francisco! I was so sad when the temple closed there in 1996. Prabhupada loved that city.
Good work!
Mahasaumya Dasa, New Raman Reti
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