Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi – Sripad Prabhodhananda Sarasvati

Verse 95

May the two wonderful syllables ‘Ra-dha’, which immediately attract the Lord of Gokula (Sri Krishna) after even one single utterance; which make all goals of human life seem futile when love is developed for them, and which mark the mantra that is lovingly repeated by Lord Madhava (Vishnu) and even by Sri Krishna, become manifest to me!

GLORIFICATION OF RADHA’S NAME:

Commentary by Srila Ananta das Babaji:

In the following three verses Sripada, in external consciousness, praises the holy name of Sri Radha, which makes all the four goals of human life seem trifle.
Religiosity leads to financial gain, financial gain leads to sense enjoyment and sense enjoyment leads (through frustration) to liberation.
All these goals are selfish purposes, but loving devotion to Krishna is the selfless, fifth goal of human life. Beyond that (in the dimension of rasa) is the service of Sri Radha.
The great acaryas have preferred that even over the service of Sri Krishna (see Vilapa Kusumanjali, verse 102, and Radha Rasa Sudhanidhi, verse 80 and elsewhere).
The Brahma Vaivarta Purana relates how Sri Krishna is at once attracted by a single utterance of Radha’s holy name: ra sabdoccaranad eva sphito bhavati madhavah dha sabdoccarata pascad dhavaty eva sasambhramah “When Madhava only hears the syllable ‘Ra’, He immediately becomes happy, and when He hears the syllable ‘Dha’, He eagerly runs after Her (or after the pronouncer of the syllable, to reward him).” Sripada then says yan namankita mantra japana parah pritya svayam madhavah sri krishno’pi “Not only Madhava (Lord Narayana of Vaikuntha) but even Sri Krishna Himself (who is Narayana’s amsi, or origin) chants these syllables ‘Ra-dha’ with great love!”

Sri Krishna is called ‘the origin of Lord Vishnu’ because of His unrivalled sweetness. The girls of Mathura praised Him for this in Srimad Bhagavata (10.44.13): gopyas tapah kim acaran yad amushya rupam lavanya saram asamordhvam ananya siddham “O Friends! What austerities did the gopis perform that they could always see the form of Krishna, which is unrivalled in sweetness, and which is the essence of beauty?” The word asamordhva (asama + urdhva) in this verse means: no form is equal to or greater than Krishna’s, and ananya siddha means ‘exclusively perfect’, or ‘most perfect’. These words clearly indicate that Krishna’s form is superior in beauty to that of Lord Vishnu. It is written with golden letters in Srimad Bhagavata that Krishna’s form enchanted even Lord Vishnu (Canto Ten, chapter 89) and His consort, Goddess Lakshmi (Canto Ten, chapter 16 and 47).

For Gopala’s welfare, His father and mother had Him initiated in Narayana-mantra by Bhaguri Muni, and after He is bathed and dressed in the morning, they tell Him to go to the temple room of Lord Narayana to practise His mantra there. But when Krishna goes to the temple, He thinks to Himself: ama hoite anandita hoy tribhuvana; amake ananda dibe aiche kon jana?. ama hoite yara hoy sata sata guna; sei jana ahladite pare mora mon. ama hoite guni bodo jagate asambhava, ekali radhate taha kori anubhava (Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi lila chapter four) “All the three worlds are ecstatic because of Me, but is there anyone who can make Me happy? Only someone who is a hundred times more qualified than Me, can make Me happy. It is impossible for anyone in this world to be more qualified than Me. Only in Radha I experience that.” That is why He chants the mantra which is marked by Radha’s holy name in topmost loving ecstasy. Sripada says: “Let that wonderful holy name of Radha be manifest on my tongue.” The holy name is self-manifest, and a person who chants it with a service-attitude will see Krishna directly and spiritually. Srila Rupa Gosvami teaches in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu (1.2.234): atah sri krishna namadi na bhaved grahyam indriyaih; sevonmukhe hi jihvadau svayam eva sphuraty adah “The holy names, forms, qualities etc. of Sri Krishna cannot be grasped through the material senses, but when one serves Him with a service-attitude, starting with the tongue, they will be automatically manifest.”

radha ei du’ti varna, rasamrita paripurna,
jagajana ahladaka nama
gokula patira mana, name kore akarshana,
sumadhura rasayana dhama

“The two syllables of Radha’s name are filled with sweet nectarean rasa. They give bliss to all the people of the world, and attract the Lord of Gokula.”

japite japite radha, nama maha mantra sada,
name kore premera udoy
purushartha yoto hoy, apadartha mone loy
radha nama heno madhumoy

“When one always repeats the mantra with the holy name of Radha, one will certainly attain love for Her. The name of Radha is so full of honey, that it makes the four goals of life seem insignificant.”

radha namankita mantra, mantra cudamani tantra,
japa kore prite sri madhava
prabodhanandate bhane, sphurti hauk mora mone,
radha nama parama sampad

“The mantra which is marked with the name of Sri Radha is the crownjewel of all mantras, and Sri Madhava repeats it for Himself with love. Prabodhananda says: “May that name be manifest in my mind. The name of Radha is the greatest treasure.”

VERSE 96:

May the two supremely astonishing, blissful, rasika, erotic and enchanting syllables ‘Ra-dha’, which fulfill all desires, which are muttered by Sri Hari Who sits in a bower house on the bank of the Yamuna as the king of yogis, meditating on the effulgence of Her lotus feet with eyes filled with tears of love, always be manifest in my heart!

SRI RADHA’S WISH-YIELDING HOLY NAME:

Commentary:

Because the holy name is non-different from its bearer, the name of Radha also contains all of Her personal sweetness. Indeed, even Sri Krishna, Who is sweetness personified, mutters this holy name with the greatest love in a secret bower house on the bank of the Yamuna, meditating like the king of yogis on the light shining from Her divine lotus feet.
Timirabhisarika Sri Radha. Tender Radhika rushes out at night to meet Krishna, overcoming all possible obstacles, just to come to see Him in a trysting-arbour. Sripada, in his kinkari-form, follows Her like Her shadow. The forest of Vrindavana is so dark at night, being also covered by overhanging trees and vines, that a person cannot even see his own stretched-out hand, but the most tender princess, Sri Radhika, considers this darkness to be a great advantage for Her secret tryst. All obstacles take shelter at Anuragini’s (passionate Radha’s) lotus feet.

When Srimati arrives at the trysting place She sees that Syamasundara has still not arrived, and She becomes very upset. The maidservant understands this and goes out to search for Syama. It is so dark in the forest that Krishna could not find the trysting place, and He sits down in another kunja nearby. The maidservant finds Nagara in that arbour on the bank of the Yamuna, meditating on the aura of Radha’s toenails. By Radharani’s grace, the maidservant knows what is going on in Krishna’s mind. Nagara first of all thinks: “Aha! How can My tender Radhika come over this dark forest path all alone?”, but then He remembers the bright light that shines from Her toenails, and He thinks: “Surely She can proceed when the moon-rays shining from Her toenails are lighting up the way for Her!” As soon as Rasaraja (Krishna, the king of relishers) remembers the effulgence of Premamayi’s toenails, He becomes absorbed in its sweetness, like a great yogi absorbed in samadhi. Just as the great yogis sit in a solitary mountain cave to meditate on the supreme brahman-light, so also Sri Krishna, Who is the Supreme brahman Himself, meditates on the effulgent toenails of Sri Radha.
Even the worshipable truth of the greatest yogis is absorbed in worshipping prema, personified by Sri Radha. Although the greatest mystics want to attain liberation by meditating on His bodily luster, He Himself meditates on the effulgence of Radhika’s lotus feet to become liberated from His lusty feelings. Just as the cave-like hearts of the great yogis are illuminated by the brahmajyoti, the cave-like heart of Sri Krishna, Who is brahman personified, is illuminated by the light emanating from Sri Radha’s lotus feet. The brahmajyoti of the yogis is formless and devoid of attributes, but the light that is worshiped by the Supreme brahman Sri Krishna has forms and attributes, and plays innumerable sweet pastimes. While He meditates on the light shining from Her lotus feet, Krishna repeatedly mutters Her sweet holy name ‘Radha’, while the hairs on His body stand on end of ecstasy, and a stream of loving tears flows from His eyes.
Premamaya Krishna is gladdened by rati rasananda (the delicious ecstasy of love) when He meditates on the light shining from Sri Radha’s feet and He chants Her sweet name, and He becomes totally enchanted. The maidservant is so happy to see Madhava thus meditating on Her Svamini’s lotus feet and chanting Her holy name, that she loses herself in topmost ecstasy, and thinks: “I should show this once to my Svamini!” Quickly she runs back to Svamini and says “Oho! That crown jewel of heroes, for Whom You are so eagerly waiting, is sitting in a nearby kunja, meditating on the light emanating from Your toenails and repeatedly chanting Your holy name!”

There is also another reading of the words rati rasanande sammohita. When Svamini hears the words of Her maidservant, She also becomes enchanted by the delicious ecstasy of love. She had already given up hope for meeting Krishna that night, and Her heart had become dark like the new moon night of despair. Now She suddenly hears from Her maidservant that Madhava is sitting in a nearby kunja, meditating on Her in a favorable mood, so She also becomes enchanted by rati rasananda. After all, Her madana maha bhava causes Her to become happy even if lethal obstacles are standing in Her way to meeting Krishna. The maidservant speaks sweet words about Krishna to revive Her Svamini, and brings Her to the kunja where Her Nagara is staying. There Srimati sees Nagara immersed in meditation, a stream of sweet nectarean Radha-nama flowing from His lotus-like mouth. Seeing this sweet situation, Svamini becomes immersed in the ecstasy of rati rasananda, and Her hairs are standing on end. With a sweet voice, the maidservant says: “O Yogiraja! Open Your eyes and see! The treasure of Your sadhana has come before You! Be blessed by enjoying the fruits of Your sadhana! The powerful name of Radha has attracted the deity Radha to come here personally, and the lotus feet You meditated on have come before You! Bless Your eyes by beholding their sweetness directly!” Hearing the words of the maidservant, the king of yogis slowly opens His eyes and becomes filled with rati rasananda by seeing the deity of His meditation before His very eyes. The maidservant relishes the sweetness of the divine Couple, and when this vision disappears, Sripada humbly prays: “May these two para vidya-syllables ‘Ra-dha’ be manifest in my heart!” vidyate sarva kamaptis tasmat vidya para mata: “She by Whom all desires are fulfilled, is called para vidya.” In this transcendental vision the maidservant has personally experienced how the chanting of Sri Radhika’s holy names fullfills all desires.

By the power of the japa of Radhika’s holy names, and meditation on Her lotus feet, Syamasundara has attained His long-desired goddess. Sri Radha’s service is the most cherished treasure of Her maidservants, therefore Sripada says: “May these two para vidya syllables ‘Ra-dha’ always be manifest in my heart!”

sukhada kalindi tire, keli-kunja abhyantare,
ratana mandire diva rati
radhapada jyoti sudha, dhyana kore hari sada
nirajane yogindra yemati

“In a blissful play bower on the bank of the Yamuna, in a jewelled temple, Hari meditates in solitude on the nectarean light that emanates from Radha’s feet, day and night, just like the king of yogis.”

ati adabhuta rati, rasera anande mati
vimohita ye devi radhike
se radhara nama rupa, du’akhara aparupa,
jape syama premasru pulake

“Syama’s hairs stand on end of ecstasy, and tears of love flow from His eyes when He repeats the two wonderful syllables that form the name of goddess Radhika, Who is enchanted by a very wonderful rasika bliss of rati.”

hari japa radha nama, para vidya rasadhama,
madhura madhura sudhakara
bhanaye prabodhananda, sri nama paramananda,
hride sphurti hauk nirantara

“The name of Radha, which is even practised by Hari, is the wish-yielding abode of rasa and an ever-so-sweet moon. Prabodhananda says: This holy name is full of ecstasy! Let it always be manifest in my heart!”

VERSE 97:

The nectarean name of Sri Radha, which is rarely attained even by the demigods, the regular devotees, the liberated souls and Krishna’s friends; which is listened to and lovingly repeated even by Lord Hari; which is loudly sung by Him to Her girlfriends and described by Him with tear-filled eyes, and which is the very form of prema, rasa and ananda, is my very life!

THE RARELY ATTAINED NECTAR OF SRI RADHA’S HOLY NAME:

Commentary:

When a devotee chants the holy name He can relish the forms, attributes and pastimes of God also. The holy name of Sri Radha contains all Her divine love. The lotus feet of the holy name of Krishna are worshiped by the jewels that shine on the heads of all the Upanishads, but even that same Krishna is absorbed in relishing the sweetness of Sri Radha’s holy names! Such are the limitless glories of these holy names! Sripada became aware of the greatness of the holy name by the mercy of that holy name, and in external consciousness He says: “That nectarean holy name of Sri Radha is my very life! Just as the body is useless without the soul, so the body of my bhajana is also lifeless without the holy name of Radha. That holy name always keeps me alive! I’m suffering so much out of separation from Sri Radha that I would die without chanting Her holy name!” There is nothing more delicious in this world than nectar, but Sripada says: “Even the demigods, who enjoy this nectar in heaven, are far removed from the nectar of Sri Radha’s holy name”. The demigods cannot fully engage in God’s worship because there is too much intoxicating enjoyment in their celestial abodes. Those who desire liberation, or those who worship God in awe and reverence, like Dhruva, Prahlada and king Ambarisha, can also not taste this sweet nectar, what to speak of the materialistic demigods. Only those who worship Radha and Krishna in the sweet mood of the Vraja-devotees can fully appreciate this nectar. Lord Siva told Narada Muni:

brahmadinam maharadhyam duratah svate surah
tam radhikam yo bhajate devarshe tam bhajemahi

“O Devarsi Narada, I worship those who worship Sri Radhika, Who is served from a distance by the demigods and who is most worshipable for Lord Brahma and others!”

Also Krishna’s cowherd boyfriends, like Mandalibhadra, Subhadra, and Vijaya are far removed from the nectar of Sri Radha’s holy name. Only Krishna’s most intimate friends, like Subala and Madhumangala, are slightly aware of Sri Radhika’s glories. Sripada says maha sukhakaram coccaritam prematah: “One can attain ecstatic love of God by loudly chanting this holy name”, and one must be aware of offenses, that will bar a person from entering into such ecstasy. Only an offenseless chanter can taste this nectar of the highest love, and thus become blessed.

By the grace of Sri Radha’s holy name another sweet pastime is revealed to Sripada. He sees Nagara sitting in a kunja, eagerly waiting for Srimati to arrive. When Srimati arrives, She wants to witness and test Krishna’s love for Her, so She goes to a nearby arbour and hides Herself there, sending some of Her friends inside the kunja where Krishna is waiting for Her. Seeing the sakhis, Krishna eagerly asks them: “O Sakhis! Where is Priyaji?” The sakhis reply: “Syamasundara! Her superiors have forbidden Her to leave the house today.” Syama says: “But why do I smell Her bodily fragrance then? Tell Me the truth! She must be hiding in some nearby grove, just to make fun of Me!” The sakhis reply: “Syama! Our clothes carry Radhika’s fragrance, because we’re always close by Her! We tell You the truth: Today She really couldn’t come along with us!” When Nagara hears these words He becomes very upset and says: “Tell Me, how can I still meet Her?” The sakhis then advise Him: “Look, just stay here for some time, and be fixed in chanting Her honeysweet name, and She will surely show up, being attracted to Your chanting!” On the sakhis’ advise, Syama lovingly starts to chant Radha’s holy name, but after some time He asks them: “O sakhis! I’ve chanted for so long now, but still Your friend didn’t show up!” The sakhis reply: “Look, along with the chanting You should also do some hearing! We will chant the holy name of Radha, and You listen!” premna akarshayate: The sakhis are chanting Radha’s name, and Syama is listening with love and attention. Becoming more and more attracted to Radha by this practise of hearing, Syama says: “O sakhis! Now I have also listened to the holy name of Sri Radha, but still She has not shown up yet!” One sakhi then jokingly replies: “Look Syamasundara! I think that You’re committing offenses to the chanting of the holy name, and that’s why You don’t get any result! Have You maybe gone to Candravali’s grove today?” Sitting aside in hiding, and hearing Her friends’ jokes, Svamini laughs. Sripada, in his kinkari-form, sticks to Her like Her shadow and floats in oceans of bliss. The sakhis now tell Krishna: “Look, just clap Your hands and chant the holy name out loud. Then You will get rid of Your offenses, and the holy name will be pleased with You!” Then Nagararaja in great loving ecstasy, and with tearfilled eyes, joins the sakhis in ecstatic Radha nama sankirtana. Seeing the ecstasy, Srimati can no longer stay in hiding, so She enters the kunja and blesses Nagara with Her audience. “This holy name of Sri Radha”, says Sripada, “is my very life!”

ki amrita radha nama, madhura madhura dhama,
sarvananda sukhera avadhi
ei nama cintamani, paramrita sikharini,
devera durlabha rasa nidhi

“How sweet is Radha-nama! It is the abode of all sweetness, and the limit of all transcendental bliss! The Cintamani-jewel of the holy name is a most nectarean beverage, an ocean of rasa which is rarely attained even by the demigods!”

bhukti mukti karmi jnani, yoteko sadhaka sreni,
santa citta sad antah karana
ta sabay namamrita, bahu dure avasthita,
nikunjera nigudha ratana

“The nectar of Radha’s holy name, which is the secret jewel from the bushes of Vrindavana, remains far away from all the peaceful-minded and saintly sadhakas, like the jnanis and karmis that desire liberation and enjoyment.”

sumadhura radha nama, rasanaya avirama,
preme yadi uccarita hoy
maha sukhakara prema, lakho bana yeno hema,
rasananda hoyto udoy

“If the tongue constantly vibrates this very sweet name of Radha loudly and with love, one will get a rasika ecstasy which is as pure as gold molten a hundred thousand times.”

nijanande nanda suta, ei radha namamrita,
prema nire korena sravana
giridhari gopi sane, radha nama uccarane,
nritya kore koriya kirtana

“Nanda’s son hears this nectarean name of Radha while His eyes are filled with tears of love. Together with the gopis, Giridhari loudly chants the holy name of Radha, and dances along with it.”
vadanete ‘radhe radhe’, vinoda nagara jape,
syama ange premera vikara
prabodhanandete koy, ananta mahimamoy,
radha nama jivatu amra

“When Nagara blissfully chants ‘Radhe, Radhe!’, transformations of ecstatic love appear on His limbs. Prabodhananda says: This limitlessly glorious name of Radha is my very life!”