Sri Radharani comes to a trysting-kunja, hoping to meet Her beloved Syamasundara there. Tulasi follows Svamini like Her shadow and helps Her to decorate the kunja while She waits for Syama to come. Tulasi helps Svamini preparing flower garlands, sandalwood pulp, vermilion, delicious betelleaves, jugs filled with scented water and other ingredients for Syamasundara’s service.

But time goes by and Syama doesn’t show up. Again and again Srimati eagerly looks down the road for Syama to come and finally breaks down in crying and, suffering the pangs of separation, laments:

kanuka sandesa, besa boni ayalu, sanketa keli nikunja
madhavi parimale, bhari tanu jarai, phukarai madhukara punja
abahu na milalo daruna kan
nilaja cita, piriti anurodhai, ithe nahi yata parana
kanuka vacana, amiya rasa secane, becalu tanu mana jati
nija kula dushana, bhushana kori manalu, tei bhelo aichana sati
himakara kirane, gamana avarodhalo, ki phala calabahun geho
govinda dasa koho yai sati janaho kanu ki tejalo leho

“After receiving Krishna’s message I came to the forest to meet Him in this playgrove, which is filled with fragrant Madhavi-flowers surrounded by swarms of buzzing bees. Until now I did not meet cruel Krishna! My heart is so shameless and devoid of love that my life still didn’t leave My body! When I heard Krishna’s nectarean words I sold My mind, My body and My caste (to Him), thinking that the pollution of My family (that was caused by My infedility) was an ornament. The moonrays block My path, now what result will I have achieved by going home?”

Tulasi keeps Srimati in the kunja and goes out to look for Syama. Although she looks here and there, she cannot find Him, so she thinks: “Let me go once to Candravali’s kunja and see!” Actually Krishna was on His way to Radha’s kunja, but on the way He had been intercepted by Padma and Saibya and taken to Candravali’s kunja. Tulasi goes to Candra’s kunja and looks through the slits in the vines to see that Syama is there, surrounded by Padma, Saibya and Candravali, prattling with them in a loving way, thus giving great delight to Candravali. Tulasi desperately thinks: “How will I take Syama to Svamini now? How will Svamini stay alive if She remains separated from Syama like this? Let me first show myself to Syama a little and see what happens. If Syama doesn’t react, I will have to find some trick to get Him out of here.”

So suddenly Tulasi enters Candra’s kunja and stands in the gate, making Krishna promptly get up from Candravali’s bed and ask her: “Tulasi! Where is My Radha?”, and go out with her to Radha’s kunja. Tulasi sees that the faces of Padma, Candravali and Saibya wilt of misery when they see Syamasundara’s inconceivable behaviour. To increase Krishna’s relish of His meetings with Radharani, Krishna sometimes meets with Her so-called rivals like Candravali, but as soon as Krishna remembers Radha’s supreme madana-love for Him, He promptly forgets Candravali and all other gopis. Some light may be seen in the sky before the sun rises, provided by the moon and the stars, but as soon as the sun rises, there is no trace of any other luminary in the sky anymore. (Radha can be compared to the sun, being the daughter of Maharaja Vrisha-bhanu, which means the sun in June, and Candravali, meaning ‘series of moons’ can be compared to the moon, a smaller luminary). Tulasi takes Syamasundara along to Srimati’s kunja and rebukes Him severely along the way, threatening Him that if she tells Svamini that He had gone astray to Candravali’s kunja, Svamini would certainly let Him suffer for it! Syamasundara then offers hundreds of apologies to this little maidservant and begs her not to tell anything to Srimati. Although Krishna was able to destroy the powerful Agha-demon, He now humbly begs forgiveness from this little maidservant! This is the glory of Sri Radha’s maidservice! Tulasi consoles Syama and takes Him to Srimati’s kunja, and when Svamini sees Him, the fire of Her separation from Him is promptly extinguished. Tulasi holds Syama’s hand and offers Him to Svamini, telling Her: “Here, take Your beloved!” Then his hands are suddenly empty. The vision disappears from Sri Raghunatha dasa, who immediately prays for the vision of this pastime and for devotional service to the lotus feet of Sri Rupa Manjari.

(Sri Srimat Ananta das Babaji)