Divine watersports

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

Moonlit night rendezvous

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

Śrī Nikuñja Gopāl Gosvāmī on household life

Nīla Ratan Dās: “Bābā blessed the gṛhasthas that if they would humbly acknowledge their inability to perform any sādhana, he would be the engine to pull them to the spiritual sky. But the family man must take full shelter at Bābā for that. He must touch the lotus feet of the Sat-Guru; then it will … Continue reading Śrī Nikuñja Gopāl Gosvāmī on household life

The very life-force of sādhana

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

Beautiful Radhakunda

One summer-evening Śrī Raghunātha dāsa sits on the bank of Śrī Rādhākuṇḍa, anxiously weeping and desiring Śrīmatī’s devotional service.Then he suddenly sees Śrī Rādhikā with Her sakhīs on the bank of the kuṇḍa with the Lord of their life, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. How charming Śrī Rādhākuṇḍa’s beauty is! All around there are many blooming lotus flowers … Continue reading Beautiful Radhakunda

Like an overflowing river

When Kṛṣṇa plays His all-enchanting flute, Śrīmatī rushes out to meet Him as a forceful river goes forward to meet the ocean. Just as during the rainy season the current of a river becomes very forceful and floods its own banks (dukūla), similarly the Gaṅgā-river named Rādhā overflows the restrictions of Her du kula (two … Continue reading Like an overflowing river

A most beautiful prayer

Śrīla Siddha Kṛṣṇa dāsa Bābājī, who lived in Govardhana, prayed as follows: hā hā prāṇeśvari! tuyā viccheda anale; niravadhi prāṇa mora dhiki dhiki jvale e duḥkha sāgara hoite uddhāra koriyā; śrī caraṇe rākho more kiṅkarī koriyā heno dina ki hobe tava śrī mukhera vāṇī; karṇete śunibo āra nūpurera dhvani tomāra lāvaṇyāmṛta nayana caṣake; kobe vā … Continue reading A most beautiful prayer

The compass for the practicing rasika devotees

The great teachers of devotion say: "What is natural for the perfected souls is the target of the practicing devotees". The example given by the great devotional teachers of yore is the compass for the practicing rasika devotees of Vṛndāvana. When this example is to be invigorated one must awaken one's svarūpāveśa. It is the … Continue reading The compass for the practicing rasika devotees

The kiṅkarīs don’t want Kṛṣṇa alone

The kiṅkarīs don't want Kṛṣṇa alone. Their love for Śrīmatī is so pure that even in their dreams they don't desire Kṛṣṇa's intimate company. One of the 108 names that our Dāsa Gosvāmī gives to Śrī Rādhikā is svagaṇādvaita jīvātu svīyāhaṅkāra vardhinī - "She is the only life-support of Her maidservants, and this increases their … Continue reading The kiṅkarīs don’t want Kṛṣṇa alone

Śrī Rādhā’s toenails

The light that emanates from Śrī Rādhā's toenails will illuminate the heart of any devotee who develops such an indescribable devotion. Kṛṣṇa will come to anyone who meditates on Śrī Rādhikā's lotus feet and who hears and chants about Her, without even being called! śrī rādhe śrī rādhe vāṇī yei dike yāra mukhe śuni, sei … Continue reading Śrī Rādhā’s toenails