Snippets of nectar – 1

The book ‘Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi’ consists of Sripada Prabhodhananda’s prayers in both sadhaka avesa – the more external consciousness of a practising devotee – and siddha avesa – the internal consciousness in which he is aware of his eternal spiritual body as a maidservant and/or girlfriend of Sri Radha.

Sometimes we will see him in the fortunate condition of having direct transcendental communion with Sri Radhika, and sometimes we see him eagerly praying for such a communion in his sadhakavesa. But even in that sadhakavesa there is a strong vibration of his identity as Sri Radha’s maidservant!
By saying: “I offer my obeisances to any direction where I may find Sri Radha”, Sripada prays for a blessing upon all the sadhakas of the world who meditate on Radha-Krishna’s Vrindavana-pastimes. May their sacred desires be fulfilled!
One may ask now: “Why does Sripada call Krishna ‘Madhusudana’ in this verse? Isn’t that indicating Krishna’s divine prowess (aisvarya) and isn’t that contrary to the sweet mood (madhurya) of the Vrindavana-devotees?”
The answer to this is:
“The name Madhusudana also means madhu pushpa-rasam sudayati khandayatiti madhusudanah: Sri Krishna, Who drinks the honey (madhu) from Radha’s lotus like lips, just like a bee”.
The pastimes of Radha and Krishna are hardly perceived even by the kings of yogis like Mahadeva (Lord Siva) and Lord Brahma.
Caitanya Caritamrita states:

radha-krishnera lila ei ati gudhatara;
dasya vatsalyadi bhavera na hoy gocara
sabe eka sakhiganera iha adhikara;
sakhi hoite hoy ei lilara vistara

“The pastimes of Radha and Krishna are very confidential. They are not even perceived by Krishna’s own servants and friends in Vraja. Only His girlfriends can enter into it, and it is they who expand these pastimes.”

Just as Sripada thinks: “Will I be so fortunate to witness those sweet pastimes of Madhusudana that cannot even be perceived by the kings of yogis?”, a spiritual revelation comes to him by Sriman Mahaprabhu’s grace:

He sees Sri-Sri Radha-Madhava playing Their pastimes in a lonely bower of Vrindavana. After these pastimes Srimati Radhika sits up on the bed, looking like a flower garland ravished by a bumblebee.
Rasika Siromani (Krishna, the crownjewel of relishers) becomes compassionate when He sees how tired She is, but this is not the kind of compassion a lover usually has for his girlfriend.
This can be understood from Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja’s commentary on the 18th verse of Bilvamangala Thakura’s ‘Krishna Karnamrita’ (tarunaruna karunamaya vipulayata nayanam). There it is said:

tarune madana madodgarini svato madhupanena carune ca vijanadina tac chramapanodanartham hridyudgatva ya karuna tad udgarini ca svato vipule ayate ca nayane yasya.

“Sri Krishna personally fans Sri Radhika to soothe Her fatigue and His lotus eyes, that are naturally reddish because of drinking honey wine, become wide out of compassion upon Her.”

When Srimati is in a controlling mood, known as svadhina bhartrika, She orders Krishna: “Quickly dress Me! My girlfriends will ridicule Me when they see Me in this condition!”
Understanding the situation, the kinkaris come and bring sandalwood pulp, aguru (aloe), musk, collyrium, footlac and other items.
Rasika Siromani now becomes absorbed in dressing and ornamenting Srimati.
Svamini (Radhika) slightly smiles when She sees Rasika Nagara’s absorption and the kinkaris giggle, covering their mouths with their veils. While dressing Srimati, Syama repeatedly looks at Her face with tearfilled eyes. He cannot get enough of relishing that sweet face of Hers!
Srila Visvanatha Cakravartipada says:
trishyan muhuh smita sudham paripayito’pi
“Although Krishna constantly drinks the nectar from Radhika’s moonlike face, He can never get enough of it. He always remains thirsty for more.”
While He paints collyrium around Radhika’s frisky eyes, Syama starts to sweat.
svidyan drig anta capalancala vijito’pi:
“Although He is fanned by Radhika’s restless eye-lashes, He still sweats.”
Therefore Sri Radhika orders Sripada Prabodhananda, who stands by in his kinkari-form, to fan Krishna.
Krishna’s sweatdrops dry up because of her expert fanning, and then Sripada thinks of a funny prank: he begins to fan in such a way that Radhika’s fragrance enters Syamasundara’s nostrils. Even Syama considers Himself to be blessed by catching a whiff of the edge of Radhika’s garment and He thinks to Himself:
“O Wind! You are blessed! You are rightfully called gandhavaha (carrier of scents)! Now You carry the scent of the precious musk on Srimati’s breasts! I wish I was that lucky!” When the kinkari sees Syama’s condition, she is immersed in an ocean of transcendental bliss.
One of Svamini’s names is gandhonmadita-madhava:
“She who maddens Madhava with Her fragrance.”
Now Sripada has directly experienced in the kingdom of lilas how suitable that name is.

Suddenly his transcendental vision stops and he laments:
“Ha Radhe! Where is now that honeysweet play of Yours?”
Humbly he prays:
“I offer my obeisances to that direction from where Sri Radha’s fragrance, that maddens even Madhava, comes! O direction! Show me my Pranesvari, the queen of my life!”
At certain times Sri Radhika lives at Her in-laws’ abode named Yavata (which is halfway between Nandagrama and the present town of Kosi) and sometimes She stays with Her parents at Barsana, forty kilometers west of Vrindavana. The Vraja-devotees who are fixed in smarana know exactly in which direction they can find Her, on what day and what month. To that direction I offer my obeisances!

Taken from Srila Ananta das Babaji´s edition of Sri Sri Radha-Rasa-Sudhanidhi