KRISHNA'S FLUTE
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Transcript of KRISHNA'S FLUTE
The Magic of Krishna's Flute
O rare voice, which is a spell Unto all on earth who dwell!
O rich voice of rapturous love, Making melody above!
Krishna's, Hari's one in two, Sound these mortal verses through! Sound like that soft flute which made
Such a magic in the shade
Calling deer-eyed maidens nigh, Waking wish and stirring sigh,
Thrilling blood and melting breasts, Whispering love's divine unrests.
This is an illustration of the following lines from Canto VIII of the Gita Govinda:
antarmohan amaulighurnanachalan mandaravibhram sanastambhakar shanadrip tiharshana
mahamantrah kurangidrisam
dripyaddana vaduyama nadivishad durvaraduh khapadam
bhramsah kamsaripor vipolayatuvah sreyamsi vamsiravah
"The sound of Krishna's flute charms the entire creation, animate as well as inanimate. The deer-eyed gopis of Vraja are so fascinated "herewith that mandara flowers which decorate
their coiffure fall. May the sound of Krishna's flute, the enemy of Kamsa and saviour of gods, bless you all!"
Enter, Sweet Radha, The Bower of Hari
So came she where he sat awaiting her At the bower's entry, like a god to see,
With marriage-gladness and the grace of heaven. The pearl set upon his glorious head
Shone like a moon among the leaves, and shoneLike stars the gems that kept her gold gown close;
But still a little while she paused-abashedAt her delight, of her deep joy afraid.
This is an illustration of the following lines from Canto XI of the Gita Govinda:
hara valitara lakanchana kanchidamakeyura kankana manidyu tidipitasya
dvare nikun janila yasya harim nirikshyavridavatimatha sakhi miyam ity uvacha
manju tarakunja talakeli sadanevilasa ratirabha sahasita vadane
pravisa radhe madhava samipamiha
navabhavada sokadalala sayanasarevilasa kuchakala satara lahare
kusuma chayarachita suchiva sagehevilasa kusuma suku maradehe
Noticing Hari at the entrance of the bower, Radha, who decked herself with beaming ornaments, felt abashed. But her sakhi thus exhorted her:
"Enter, sweet Radha,the bower of Madhava.
Seek delight, O thou, whose bosom laughs
with the foretaste of happiness.
Enter, sweet Radha,the bower graced
with a bed of asoka leaves.
Seek delight, O thou, whose garland leaps
with joy on the breast.
Enter, sweet Radha,the bower illuminedwith gay blossoms.
Seek delight, O thou, whose limbs far excel
them in softness."
Radha Enters the Bower of Govinda
This picture illustrates the following lines from Canto XI of the Gita Govinda:
sa sasadhvasa sanandamgovinde lolalochana
sinjanaman jumanjirampravivesabhi vesanam
radha vadanavilokana vikasitavividhavikaravi bhangam
jalanidhimiva vidhuman daladarsanatara litatun gatarangam
harimekarasam chiram
abhilashita vilasamsa dadarsa guruharshavasam
vadava danaman anga nivasam
"Radha with timid joy, fixing her eyes on Govinda, while she musically sounded the rings of her ankles and the bells of her zone, entered the mystic bower of her only beloved.
There she beheld Madhava who delighted in her alone; who so long had sighed for her embrace; and whose countenance then gleamed with excessive rapture; his heart was
agitated by her sight, and like the mighty deep which sees the moon and rises, all his life uprose to drink her beams."
The Union of Radha and Krishna
Then she, no more delaying,entered straight;
Her step a little faltered,But her face shone with unutterable quick love.
And while the music of her banglespassed the porch,
Shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes, Departed shamed...
And like the mighty deep, Which sees the moonAnd rises, all his life
Uprose to drink her beams.
The painting illustrates the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:
gatavati sakhivrindemandatrap abharanir bhara
smara parava sakutasphita
smitasnapi tadharam
sarasamanasam drishtvaradham muhurnavapallava prasavagayane nikshiptak shimuvacha harih priyam
kisalaya sayanatale kuru kaminicharananalina vinivesam
tava padapalla vavairipara bhavamidamanu bhavatu suvesam
"Tears of joy gushed in a stream from the full eyes of Radha and their watery glances beamed. on her best beloved. Even shame, which had lingered in her downcast eyes was itself ashamed and departed, when the fawn-eyed Radha, gazed on the brightened face of Krishna, while she passed by the soft edge of his couch and the bevy of her attendant nymphs warily retired from
the bower.
Govinda, seeing his beloved cheerful, her lips sparkling with smiles, and her eyes speaking desire, thus eagerly addressed her; while she carelessly reclined on the leafy bed strewn with soft blossoms: 'Set the lotus of thy foot on this azure bosom; and let this couch be victorious
over all, who rebel against love.'"
Hang On My Eears the Jewelled Earrings, O Accomplished Youth!
The Sanskrit text on the painting from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda reads:
nayana kuranga tarangavikasanira sakare srutimandale
manasi japasavila sadharesubhavesa nivesaya kundale
"Hang on my ears the jewelled ear-rings,O accomplished youth,
Whence the antelopes of thine eyesmay run downwards and sport at pleasure."
Arrange My Tresses, My Love!
This picture illustrates the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:
bhramarachayam rachayan tamupariruchiram suchiram mama sammukhe
jitakamale vimale parikarmayanarmajana kamalakam mukhe
"Arrange my tresses,O beloved Krishna,round my temples.
These are purer than the lotus blossom."
Place a Circle of Musk on My Forehead
This is an illustration of the following verse from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda:
mrigamad arasav alitam lalitamkuru tilakamali kara janikare
vihi takalan kakalam kamalananavisramita sramasikare mama
ruchire chikure kuru manadamanasi jadhvaja chamareratigalite lalite kusumani
sikhandi sikhanda kadamare
"O Love, place now a fresh circle of musk, black as the lunar spots, on the moon of my forehead; and mix gay flowers on my tresses with a peacock's feathers, in graceful order, that
they may wave like the banners of Kama."
Krishna Tying the Tresses of Radha
This is an illustration from Canto XII of the Gita Govinda. Krishna ties the tresses of Radha on the River Bank. The painting is unique in the sense that for the first time we see a cypress tree
in a Kangra painting. Gita Govinda thus concludes:
rachaya kuchayoschitrampatram kurushva kapolayorghataya jaghane kanchim
mugdhasraja kabari bharam
kalaya valayasrenim panaupade maninupura
viti nigaditah pritahpitambaropi tatha karot
yadgandharva kalasu kausalamanu dhyanam cha yad vaishnavam
yachchrin garavivek atattvamapi yat kavyeshu lilayitam
tatsarvam jayadeva panditkavehkrishnaikatan atmanah
sanandah parisodhayantusudhiyah srigita govindatah
"While she spoke, Krishna triumphed; and obeying her sportful behests, he placed musky spots on her bosom and forehead, dyed her temples with radiant hues, embellished her eyes with
kajal, decked her braided hair and her neck with fresh garlands, and tied on her wrists loosened bracelets, on her ankles the beamy rings, and around her waist the zone of bells, that
sounded with ravishing melody.
Whatever is delightful in the modes of music, whatever is divine in meditations on Vishnu, whatever is exquisite in the sweet art of love, whatever is graceful in the fine strains of poetry,
all that let the happy and wise learn from the songs of Jayadeva whose soul is united with the foot of Narayana."