Tulasī watches on the bank of the kuṇḍa how Rādhā and Śyāma have a huge fight in
the water. The sakhīs rebuke Śyāma, saying: “Śyāma! Don’t splash our sakhī like that! Has She ever done that with You? Just see how much She suffers!”, but Śyāma does not listen. Svāminī becomes mad from His splashing, although She is normally so grave, and She backs away. What can a sukumārī (tender girl) do against such a powerful wrestler?

Śrī Līlāśuka (Bilvamaṅgala Ṭhākura) calls Kṛṣṇa ānanda (ecstasy), and on the mouth of that ānanda a śṛṅgāra-rasa (erotic flavour) smile blooms up. He does not play any other games than the games of śṛṅgāra rasa. Rasamaya Kṛṣṇa and Rasamayī Rādhā shower Each other with nothing else but rasa during Their rasa-krīḍā (delectable games), and the devotees that are fixed in smaraṇa are constantly showered with the sweet relish of this rasa-krīḍā.

These pastimes can only be attended in svarūpāveśa. When the mind returns to the external world this svarūpāveśa disappears, therefore Śrīla Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura sings: sādhana smaraṇa līlā, ihāte nā koro helā, kāya mane koriyā susāra “Do not neglect the practice oflīlā smaraṇa; make it the essence of everything for your body and mind!”

It is the nature of these transcendental pastimes to draw the mind towards one’s siddha svarūpa. That sacred greed that is the only and essential requirement for entering into rāgānugā bhakti is also awakening the revelation of these transcendental pastimes. When a fortunate devotee hears about the sweetness of these feelings this sacred greed arises in his heart.

tat tad bhāvādi mādhurye śrute dhīr yad apekṣate nātra śāstraṁ na yuktiṁ ca tal lobhotpatti lakṣaṇam
“The definition of the birth of transcendental greed is that when one hears about the
sweetness of the moods and pastimes ofKṛṣṇa and His Vraja-devotees one becomes attracted up to the point that one is not sensitive to the instruction of the revealed scriptures anymore, nor to logical arguments.” (Bhakti Rasāmṛta Sindhu 1.2.292)

Experience will come automatically while hearing about these sweet moods. These topics while destroy bodily consciousness and will nourish the siddha svarūpa. One who becomes lusty after hearing these topics is unfortunate. Śrī Śuka Muni says: “The topics of Rādhā and Mādhava’s loving affairs will cure the heart’s disease of lust and will bless the hearer with the highest possible devotion to the Lord (which is undoubtedly mañjarī bhāva).”

Śyāma claps in His hands and says: “You’re defeated! You’re vanquished! Give Me My prize! I’m the victor!” But nobody, not even the parrots in the trees, sings Kṛṣṇa’s glories. All the creatures in Vraja feel sorry for Rādhikā. How beautiful are Svāminī’s eyes when Śyāma holds Her around the neck! Although Her eyes are filled with water She still keeps them wide open. Śrī Raghunātha dāsa addresses Her here as sphuṭat sarasijākṣi: blooming lotus-eyed girl! Her eyes have become slightly reddish from all the water, although they are usually compared to blue lotus flowers by the mahā janas.

alasa locana heri kājare ujala; jale bosi tapa kore nīla utapala “When they see Rādhikā’s languid eyes, made up with eyeliner, the blue lotus flowers
sit in the water and perform penances (to become as beautiful as them).” indivara vara garava garāsita khañjana gañjana nayanā “These eyes (of Rādhikā) swallow the pride of the most excellent of blue lotus flowers (in colour) and the wagtailbirds (in restlessness).”

How bold is our Nāgara! When He collects His prize (of kisses) Svāminī, wanting to know what He’s doing exactly, does not close Her eyes completely, but keeps them slightly opened. Then, when Śyāma has collected His prize, Svāminī dives under water, feeling ashamed before Her girlfriends. Nobody noticed where She went. There are shining red, blue, white and golden lotus flowers floating on the kuṇḍa (saroruha kulojjvalam) and Svāminī surfaces in a cluster of golden lotus flowers, where Śhe remains unnoticed (since Her face resembles a golden lotus flower also). padme mukhe nā pāri cinite (C.C.)

Suddenly the bees become attracted to Her extraordinary fragrance and leave all the other lotus flowers to come to Her face, humming sweetly and blissfully (sarasa bhṛṅga saṅghollasat). The sakhīs meanwhile tell Śyāma: “What have You done to our sakhī ? Go and look for Her!” Our Hero sees the many bees buzzing around the golden lotuses, so He goes there and catches Śrīmatī. The sakhīs also go there. Śyāma brags: “Priye! If I would hide like this, You and Your girlfriends would never find Me!” Svāminī proudly says: “O yes? Allright, hide out then! I’ll surely find You!”

Śyāmasundara dives into a cluster of blue lotus flowers. While searching, Svāminī notices that the monkeys, that sit on the branches of the trees that hang over the kuṇḍa, are staring at this cluster of blue lotus flowers. She understands that Śyāma must be hiding there, so She goes there and catches Him. Then She swims across the deep kuṇḍa, holding on to Śyāma’s neck. tiṅho Kṛṣṇa kaṇṭha dhari, bhāse jalera upori, gajotkhāte yaiche kamalinī (C.C.) “She floats upon the water, holding on to Kṛṣṇa’s neck like a female lotus flower picked by an elephant.” The whole kuṇḍa is illuminated by Rādhā and Śyāma’s sweet bodily luster. How happy the kuṇḍa is to get her own Īśvarī swimming at her chest! Seeing this sweet pastime Tulasī is completely overwhelmed. How much joy the sweet water shows by making high waves! madhura vāri sampūritam. How sweet this pastime is! Tulasī Mañjarī is beside herself of ecstasy when she sees it.

Suddenly the spiritual vision disappears and remembering this pastime she says: “My mind became immersed in the spiritual flavour of Your service, as my eyes directly saw Your kuṇḍa”.

Srila Ananta das Babaji