In the pūrva rāga-(beginnings of love) condition we can see that the youthful spiritualCupid of Vṛndāvana does not like anyone else but Rādhārāṇī. Thinking that they are all Rādhā, He embraces golden Jhintī-flowers, landlotuses and so on, telling His brāhmaṇa-friend Madhumaṅgala: "O friend! Won't you show Me this Rādhā?" Madhumaṅgala writes Rādhā's name on a … Continue reading Rādhikā’s name is all-powerful

The more purified the heart is the more vivid these transcendental experiences are. By the mercy of Śrī Gaurasundara all these beautiful things have been revealed by the ācāryas. Is there any greater cause of heart-rending lamentation if I am deprived of the treasure they came to bring, although I was born in Gaurasundara's age? … Continue reading They will lead us out of this world

How wonderful is the Gosvāmīs' loyalty to the lotus feet of Śrī Rādhā! Śrīmad Prabodhānanda Sarasvati has written in Rādhā Rasa Sudhānidhi (78): yā vṛndāvana sīmni kācana ghanāścarya kiśorī maṇis tat kaiṅkarya rasāmṛtād iha paraṁ citte na me rocate - “Nothing else can please my mind than the nectar-rasa of the maidservanthood of some most … Continue reading Our loyalty

rādhā kṛṣṇera līlā ei ati gūḍhatara;dāsya vātsalyādi bhāvera nā hoy gocarasabe eka sakhīgaṇera ihā adhikāra;sakhī hoite hoy ei līlāra vistārasakhī vinu ei līlāra puṣṭi nāhi hoy;sakhī līlā vistāriyā sakhī āsvādoysakhī vinu ei līlāra anyera nāhi gati;sakhī bhāve tāre jei kore anugatirādhā kṛṣṇa kuñja sevā sādhya sei pāya;sei sādhya pāite āra nāhiko upāyasei gopī bhāvāmṛta jāra … Continue reading Our essence

One who wants to relish Kṛṣṇa's sweetness to the utmost must take complete shelter of Śrī Rādhā. Śrīpāda Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī writes in Rādhā Rasa Sudhānidhiḥ (261): kvāsau rādhā nigama padavī dūragā kutra cāsau Kṛṣṇas tasyāḥ kuca mukulayor antaraikānta vāsaḥ - “Where is Rādhā, who is hard to perceive by following the Vedas, and where is … Continue reading Who else can perform such a clever, intimate service?

Śrīla Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī is an eternally liberated maidservant of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, so he is the greatest authority, the ācārya of the (Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava) sampradāya (tradition) and by following in his footsteps one will surely attain this service. He gave the perfect example to the practising devotees with his sādhana-maya jīvana, his life, that was … Continue reading Our greatest authority

Tulasī watches on the bank of the kuṇḍa how Rādhā and Śyāma have a huge fight inthe 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 … Continue reading Divine watersports

Śrī Raghunātha dāsa sees a sweet pastime with his spiritual eyes: He sees himself as Tulasī Mañjarī, dressing up Śvāminī for Her rendezvous in the moonlit night. To camouflage Her she has to dress Her up in fitting clothes and ornaments, so she dresses Her in a swan-like white sārī, anoints Her body with white … Continue reading Moonlit night rendezvous

Every verse of Vilāpa Kusumāñjali shows the sweetness of Śrīla Raghunātha Dāsa Gosvāmī's love for Śrīmatī Rādhikā. The sweetness of each of Her limbs constantly causes a stir in his heart. Although he is eternally liberated, he still relishes the sweetness of devotion-in-practice. That shows how relishable devotion is, even in the stage of practice … Continue reading The very life-force of sādhana