(6:00 a.m.—8:24 a.m.) Prātaḥ-līlā I worship Gauracandra, the golden moon, lying asleep in His bed at sunrise, His body injured from the previous night’s saṅkīrtana. Mother Śacī entered His sleeping chambers, observed Gaura’s injuries and cried, “O my son! How has Your body become wounded?” In great anxiety, mother Śacī repeatedly caressed Gaura’s body to … Continue reading Daily Meditations (11)

Rādhā’s lamentation and sleeping Rādhā sighed, “O Lalitā! You made Me believe that I would meet Kṛṣṇa and submerge in the nectar ocean of His loving embrace. Enticing Me, You took Me from My house and immediately brought Me back. O sakhī! What fault have I made that has denied Me the ocean of nectar? … Continue reading Daily Meditations (10)

Niśānta-līḷā (5:36 a.m.—6:00 a.m.) Forgetting to go home and Kakkhaṭī’s poetry Rādhā-Mādhava, wrapped in sweet talk, forgot all about going home. The sakhīs smiled broadly, intoxicated with pleasure. Only Vṛndā-devī worried over the coming daylight. Govinda-līlāmṛta 1.106 Vṛṇdā doubted for a moment whether Rādhā-Mādhava’s love sports had finished or not, since the brilliant full moon … Continue reading Daily Meditations (9)

The sakhīs’ joy in seeing Śrī Rādhā and the pleasure bed The middle of the pleasure bed had kuṅkuma stains from Kṛṣṇa’s body. The edges of the bed were smeared with red lac from Rādhā’s lotus feet. Here and there were sprinkles of sindhūra, sandalwood and kajjala. The sakhīs understood from the marks on the … Continue reading Daily Meditations (8)

The male parrots speak to Kṛṣṇa The male parrots, eager to please sleepy Kṛṣṇa, tried to wake Him by making sweet sounds and speaking many beautiful, cheerful words to satisfy the mind and heart like an ambrosial drink. The parrots, who were learned in the depths of sacred rapture, skilled in using attractive sweet words, … Continue reading Daily Meditations (7)

Female Parrots speak to Rādhā “O Rādhe! Have You forgotten all respect and family reputation? You should not be lying here! Stop sleeping, which deprives You of amorous delights and quickly get up. Just see how the night has ended! Please return to Your home. Do not hurt Your parents by staying here. Look! O … Continue reading Daily Meditations (6)

Niśānta-līḷā (4:24 a.m.—5:36 a.m.) Mañjarīs’ service and Kṛṣṇa’s agitation Ascertaining that Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa were awake, the mañjarīs fearlessly opened the door and quietly entered the bed chamber. Kṛṣṇa-bhāvanāmṛtam 2.26 The mañjarīs beheld Rādhā-Mādhava wrapped in a deep embrace as They slept. The blue and yellow radiance of Their unadorned bodies caused the jeweled lamps … Continue reading Daily Meditations (5)

Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s sweet fatigue Vrajendu [Kṛṣṇa] felt immense joy beholding His beloved Rādhā resting on His lap in the gentle light of dawn. Rādhā, feigning soft weeping, smiled slightly. Rādhā’s braid was loose, Her garlands crushed and Her jewel necklaces were broken. Rādhikā was externally exhausted but internally elated. She repeatedly opened Her tired rolling eyes … Continue reading Daily Meditations (4)

The pleasure fatigue Rādhā-Mādhava opened Their eyes simultaneously and glanced playfully at each other. However, the impulse of desire disrupted Their mutual vision and made Them very unhappy. Kṛṣṇāhnika-kaumudī 1.29 The Divine Couple’s ankle bells, bangles and other ornaments chimed sweetly and Their limbs shone with attraction. Their faces, surrounded by scattered locks of hair, … Continue reading Daily Meditations (3)

The birds awaken Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa The birds perched on the branches just outside the kuñja. Although eager to sing, they silently waited for Vṛndā’s command. On her signal, they filled the grove with their blissful chirping. A swarm of bees, greedy for honey, entered the kuñja and made a humming sound like Cupid’s auspicious … Continue reading Daily Meditations (2)