Rasakreeda
Rasakreeda
Rasakreeda
Lord Krishna decided it was time to quench the desires of the Gopa women.
As Krishna - I shall spend time with Radha today. He told Radha’s friend - "Tonight at moon-rise I shall come to the creeper-hut on the banks of the Yamuna." Hearing this news from her friend, Radha was enthused and called on her friends.
As Radha - Friends, Deck me up.
Making up/ ornamenting of the heroine by her friends is a set-piece that the actor might elaborate. The friends bring out their vanity boxes and go over making the hair, eyebrows, eye lashes, face, adorning her with garlands, skirt, ornaments etc.. and stand appreciating their handiwork and the heroine's beauty.
Radha reached the creeper hut with her friends and saw the full moon glimmering over the mountain. As Radha - (Gazing at the beauty of the moon) - Astonishing! There is none to rival the moon who is the commander of Kamadeva (Love God in his conquest).
All directions have been filled with a whitish hue. It appeared as if the milky ocean desirous of conquering the world had tinged all living beings with its whiteness.
Who has not been deluded by the lustre of the moon ? A cat looking at the moon beams falling in some pots and vessels, mistakes it for milk and tries to lick it. Elephants looking at the moon beams streaming through the leaves of trees, think they are lotus stalks and try to get them with their trunks. In her bedroom, a lady at the end of a love-making session mistakes the moon beam for her dress and tries to grab it. Realising her folly, she feels ashamed.
The moon acting like a mirror to the lady night, is also like a play-ball to the maidens of the four directions who are Indra’s mistress (and shines like a mark on the brow). Base women who bathe upto their necks in the evening, adorn themselves and set out in search of partners in the guise of darkness are anguished at the brightness of the moon, which exposes them. It would appear that the sin of bringing them distress had taken a physical form and attached itself to the moon as a smudge.
The moon thus pervades Vrindavan and shines lustrously.
As Radha - The Lord has not come yet. What could be the delay ? Is it possible that he has deceived me ? Impossible!
Describing the face of Krishna, the son of Nandagopa - Is there anything that can equal the beauty of that face ? The moon ? No - The moon looking at the lustre of Krishna’s face decided that he should also acquire similar beauty and went to Shiva’s dreadlocks that resembled a forest. There he bathed in the waters of the Ganga, cleansed himself and offered fire sacrifice into the flaming third eye of Shiva. Sustaining himself on the breathe of the serpents on Lord Shiva and performing rigorous penance, he was depleted and was only able to equal the beauty of Krishna’s forehead.
Radha describes each part of Krishna’s body from head to toe and enacts being hit by Kamadeva's(God of love) flower arrows thrice and falls down exhausted.
O Kamadeva! It is generally known that your arrows are soft, made of flowers and that the moon's rays are cooling. But for people like me who suffer pangs of separation this is not true. When your soft and flowery arrows strike, it feels like being struck by thunder. When the cool rays of the moon fall on me, it feels like my body is in flames.
Thus Radha in her love-sickness suffered the night.
In the morning Krishna came to her.
As Krishna - - Beautiful one! Darling! I said I would come to you. But I did not. Please forgive my lapses. Please don’t be angry with me. And he prostrated in front her.
As Radha - Turned away sulkingly and cast angry looks at Krishna. Hey Madhava! Desirous of whom were you unable to sleep a wink yesterday. Is that not why your eyes are reddened ? It would appear that your passion for her was oozing out of your eyes. Why has your reddish lips blackened a little ? Pray tell! Wont you ? I know the reason. Your lips have been coloured by her eye-liner as you kissed her eyes. You may go and dally with her.
What did you say Krishna ? "Last night as I started to go out to meet you, Father called me to his side and asked me to spend the night there. I had to spend the whole night there thinking of you. Please understand. Losing sleep because of separation from you, the eyes have become red. On account of constantly thinking about you, the breathe from my deep sighs have made my lips black."
Krishna! Your heart is also dark like your body. If not, you would not deceive me, distressed with love.
The crescent marks on your chest looks like a message scribbled with her nails, conveying her proficiency in love-making.
Don’t stand here for another moment. Go to her.
In the morning Krishna came to her.
As Krishna - - Beautiful one! Darling! I said I would come to you. But I did not. Please forgive my lapses. Please don’t be angry with me. And he prostrated in front her.
As Radha - Turned away sulkingly and cast angry looks at Krishna. Hey Madhava! Desirous of whom were you unable to sleep a wink yesterday. Is that not why your eyes are reddened ? It would appear that your passion for her was oozing out of your eyes. Why has your reddish lips blackened a little ? Pray tell! Wont you ? I know the reason. Your lips have been coloured by her eye-liner as you kissed her eyes. You may go and dally with her.
What did you say Krishna ? "Last night as I started to go out to meet you, Father called me to his side and asked me to spend the night there. I had to spend the whole night there thinking of you. Please understand. Losing sleep because of separation from you, the eyes have become red. On account of constantly thinking about you, the breathe from my deep sighs have made my lips black."
Krishna! Your heart is also dark like your body. If not, you would not deceive me, distressed with love like this.
The crescent marks on your chest looks like a message scribbled with her nails, conveying her proficiency in love-making.
Don’t stand here for another moment. Go to her.
As Krishna - Beloved! Is it not because of my love for you that I have come here today ? There is no one else who will call me hard-hearted. These marks were cut by your nails during our love-play. This is the truth.
As Radha - While you dallied with her, the reddish dye on her legs has smudged your chest and it appears as if your intense passion taking the form of a tree in your chest has sprouted through. While your body is cut, I feel the pain as if mine own has been cut. Why is that so ? It is because I felt your heart and mine were one. But now since your heart has been captivated by another, I do not grieve.
As Krishna - Dearest! My chest appears smudged because it has been anointed with red-sandal paste. Would you not smell it ?
As Radha! - Enough of your deceit. In your childhood, under the pretence of breast feeding you killed Puthana. Now you speak deceitfully and try to rob me of my breath. This is not proper. So you may go to her, who satiates your desire.
As Radha - Looking at Krishna with contempt. What did you say ? "Puthana died because she had sinned by killing many babies and it was not my doing. I will loose my life shortly if you remain angry with me".
I have learnt the truth. You need not lie. It is no fault of yours. It is my misfortune. Seeing your love for me devoted to someone else, I have lost the will to live. Allow me to die.
Radha not heeding to Krishna, suffered in anguish. Thus love-stricken and feeling scorned, Radha thought - It is a pity! He has rejected me for no reason and has accepted another.
She saw a friend approaching.
As Radha’s friend - Radha! There is no one as foolish as you. Krishna, equal to the God of Love, fell at your feet and yet you rejected him. This is unbecoming of you. Your firm breasts, hard as palm fruits are of no use. Give up your pride and conceit towards Krishna. In this world there is no one except you as beautiful as Goddess Lakshmi. When he, who is the object of Goddess Lakshmi’s desire comes to you. You should lose your resentment and embrace him.
Friend! Why do you grieve now ? Everyone will be happy if you accept him. Didn’t everything, including sandal paste, not turn adverse to you ? Why did that happen ? You became cold hearted by treating him, who holds you dear, with contempt. You did not even budge when he fell at your feet. You had a fall out with your dear mate and turned away from him in rejection. Because of this, the moon is now harsh like the sun and dew feels hot like fire. Everything that brings happiness is now causing sorrow.
As Radha - Hearing her, Radha now pacified, thought - There is none as dim-witted as me. When my beloved Krishna approached me passionately, I rejected him for no reason. What do I do now ? He has heard my harsh words and will not come again.
Thus thinking Radha felt sorry and heaved deep sighs repentantly. Suddenly she became conscious of her friend watching her and felt ashamed.
As Krishna - In the evening, Krishna came and spoke - Radha, dearest - Do not be cross with me. I have done you no wrong. Why are you angry with me ? I am thirsty with desire. Allow me to sip the nectar of your lips. Why do you not speak ?
When you speak sweetly, your face is radiant like the moon. My eyes, like Chakora birds are eager to drink the moon beams that shine forth from your face.
How do I pacify your anger towards me ? Shoot me with your sharp side glances (like arrows). Bind me with your hands (like creepers) and kick with your feet on my chest. Even then I would be a little distressed. When you place your feet on my chest, I would be exhilarated and my hair would stand at its ends. I would be worried if that may prick you. It is customary for masters to punish slaves who have erred.
Thus Krishna placated Radha’s anger and picking her up, placed her on his lap. They looked passionately at each other and embraced with fervor. Dearest, the goosebumps on our bodies are an obstacle to our ever closer embrace. Kissing of our lips prevents sweet talk. The intermittent closing our eyes interrupts the lustful looks that are desirous of love making. Such is our fate!
Thus the Lord enjoyed various pleasures according to the science of love making.