The Rasa Pañcādhyāya

The Rasa Pañcādhyāya

Chapter 1: The Description of the Rāsa Pastime

1.Śrī   Śuka, the son of Bādarāyaṇa, said:

1. ‘Even Bhagavan, God Himself, beholding those nights, with autumnal jasmine [mallikā] flowers blossoming, called upon his divine power of yogamāyā, and turned his thoughts towards enjoying love.

2. At that time, the moon, king of the constellations, arose in the east, covering the face of the heavens with its copper-coloured soothing rays. It wiped away the cares of the onlookers, like a lover who has been absent for a long time wipes away the cares of his beloved.

3. Seeing that full disc, heralder of the white night-lilies, reddened with fresh vermilion powder, its splendour like the face of Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, and seeing the forest coloured by its silky rays, Kṛṣṇa played [his flute] softly, capturing the hearts of the beautiful-eyed women.

4. The music aroused Kāma. When they heard it, the women of Vraj, enchanted by Kṛṣṇa, came to their lover, their earrings swinging in their haste, and unknown to one another.

5. Some, who were milking cows, abandoned the milking and approached eagerly. Others had put milk on the fire, but then came without even removing [the milk or] the cakes [from the oven].

6-7. Others interrupted serving food, feeding their babies milk, and attending to their husbands. Still others were eating, but left their food. Others were putting on make-up, washing, or applying mascara to their eyes. They all went to be near Kṛṣṇa, their clothes and ornaments in disarray.

8. Their hearts had been stolen by Govinda, so they did not turn back when their husbands, fathers, brothers and relatives tried to prevent them. They were in a state of rapture.

9. Some gopīs, not being able to find a way to leave, remained at home and thought of Kṛṣṇa with their eyes closed, completely absorbed in meditation.

10-11. [The karma] from their impious deeds was destroyed by the intense and intolerable pain of separation from their lover, and their auspicious deeds were diminished by the complete fulfillment resulting from the intimate contact with Acyuta that they obtained through meditation. Their bondage was destroyed, and they immediately left their bodies made of the guṇas. Uniting with the supreme soul, they considered him their lover.

Read the rest at my website Enlightened Awareness

Tags: Bhagavan, Christ Consciousness, Cosmic Christ, Divine Meditation, God, Godhead, Krishna Consciousness, Krishna Meditation, Krsna, Rasa Lila, Spiritual Ecstasy, Supreme Personality of Godhead, The Lord, The Rasa Pancadhyaya