Sri Vidagdha-Madhava
(Clever Krsna)
By Çréla Rupa Goswami
Act one
Veëu-näda-viläsa
(Pastimes of Flute-music)
Prastävanä (Prologue)
Text 1
sudhanam candrinam madhurimonmada-damané
dadhana radhadi-pranaya-ghana-saraiù surabhitam
samantat santapodgama-viñama-saàsara-sarané-
pranétaà te tåñnaà haratu-léla-çikharini
sudhanam - of the nectar; candriëam - produced on the moon; api - even; madhurima - the sweetness; unmada-damani - overpowering the pride; dadhana - distributing; radha-adi - of Çrimaté Rädhäraëé and Her companions; praëa-ghana - of
teh concentrated loving affairs; saraiù - by the essence; su-rabhitam - a good fragance; samantat - everywhere; santapa - miserable conditions; udgama - generating; viçama - very dangerous; saàsara-saraëi - on the path of material existence; pranitam - created; te - your; tåñëam - desires; haratu - let it take away; hari-léla - the pastimes of Çri Kåñëa; çikharini - exactly like a combination of yogurt and sugar candy.
May the pastimes of Çri Kåñëa reduce the miseries existing in the material world and nullify all unwanted desires. The pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are like çikhariëi, a blend of yogurt and sugar candy. They overpower the pride of even the nectar produced on the moon, for they distribute the sweet fragrance of the concentrated loving affairs of Çrimati Rädhäräëi and the gopés.*
Text 2
anarpita-carià cirat karuëayavatirnaù kalau
sampayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhaktiçriyam
hariù puraöa-sundara-dyuti-kadamba-sandipitaù
sada hådaya-kandare sphuratu vaù çaci-nandanaù
anarpita - not bestowed; carim - having been formerly; cirat - fora long time; aruëaya - by causeless mercy; avatérnaù - descended; kalau - in the age of Kali; samarpayitum - to bestow; unnata - elevated; ujjvala-rasam - the conjugal mellow; sva-bhakti - of His own service; çriyam - the treasure; hariù - the Supreme Lord; puraöa - than gold; sundara - more beautiful; dyuti - of splendor; kadamba - with a multitude; sandépitaù - illuminated; sada - always; hådaya-kandare - in the cavity of the heart; sphuratu - let Him be manifest; vaù - your; çacé-nandanaù - the son of mother Çacé.
May the Supreme Lord, who is known as the son of Çrimati Çacidevi, be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love.*
Purport by Çrila Prabhupada:
This verse also appears in Caitanya-caritamåta Adi-léla (1.4 and 3.4) In his commentary on Vidagdha-madhava, Çrila Viçvanatha Cakravarté Öhakura remarks: maha-prabhoù sphurtià vina rasasvadananupapatter iti bhavaù. Without the mercy
of Çri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, one cannot describe the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore Çrila Rupa Gosvamé said, vaù yuñmakaà hådaya-guhayaà çacé-nandano hariù pakñe, siàhaù sphuratu: May Çri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is exactly like a lion that kills all the elephants of desire, be awakened within everyone's heart, for by His merciful blessings one can understand the transcedental pastimes of Kåñna."*
Text 3 (a)
sutradharaù: alam ati-vistarena. bho bhoù. samakarnyataà. adyanaà svapnantare samadiñöo 'smi bhaktavatarena bhagavata çré-çaìkaradevena yatha "aye taëdava-kala-paëdita. iha kila ballavé-cakra-ceto-våtti-makaré-vihara-makaralayasya niravadya-veëu-vadana-vidyasvadhyaya-siddhénaà prathamadhyapakasya sugandhi-puñpavalé-saundarya-tuëdilayam aravinda-bandhavanandindé-téranta-kanana-lekhayam avalambita-matta-puàs-kokila-lélasya paramananda-vardhini govardhana-nitambe sambhåta-navyambudarasya kiçora-çiro-maëer nanda-nandanasya prema-bharakåñöa-hådayo nana-dig-deçataù samprataà rasika-sampradayo våndavana-vilokanotkaëöhaya keçi-térthopakanöhe saméyivan. sa ca dhanyaù.
sutradharaù - Narrator (Çrila Rupa Gosvamé); alam - enough; ati - great; vistarena - with this elaborate description; bhoù - gentlemen; bhoù - gentlemen; samakarnyatam - this should be heard; adya - today; aham - I; svapna - sleep; antare - within; samadiñöaù - instructed; asmi - I am; bhakta - as a devotee; avatarena - who has incarnated; bhagavata - by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; çré-çaìkara-devena - by Lord Çiva; yatha - in the following manner; aye - O; tandava - of dancing; kala - in the art; pandita - learned; iha - here; kila - indeed; ballavé - of the gopés; cakra - of the multitude; cetaù - of the minds; våtti - nature; sakaré - sharks; makara-alayasya - ofthe ocean; niravadya - perfect; venu - flute; vadana - playing; vidya - of the knowledge; asvadhyaya - study; siddhénam-prathama - first; adhyapakasya - of the teacher; sugandhi - aromatic; puçpa - of flowers; avalé - because of the multitude; saundarya - beauty; tunilayam - expanded; aravinda - of the lotus flowers; bandhava - of the friend (the sun-god); nandiné - of the daughter (the Yamuna river); téra - of the shore; nata - at the edge; kanana - forest; lekhayam - series; avalambita - rested; matta - maddened; puàù - male; kokila - of a cuckoo; lélasya - pastimes; parama - supreme; ananda - bliss; vardhini - increasing; govardhana - of Govardhana Hill; nitambe - on the slope; sambhåta - held; navya - resh; ambuda - of clouds; adambarasya - of prowess; kiçora - of youths; çiraù-maneù - of the crownjewel; nanda - of Nanda Maharaja; nandanasya - of the son; prema - of love; bhara - with an abundance; akåñöa - attracted; hådayaù - hearts; nana - various; dik- - deçataù - from directions; sampratam - at the present moment; rasika - of those who are expert at relishing the mellows of devotional service; sampradayaù - community; våndavana - Våndavana; vilokana - the sight; utkaëöhaya - with a desire; keçi-tértha - the place known as Keçi-tértha; upakaëöhe - near; saméyivan - arrived; saù - that community; ca - and; dhanyaù - fortunate.
Narrator: Why speak so many words? Gentlemen! Gentlemen! Please hear me! Last night Lord Çiva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had come in the role of a devotee, spoke to me in a dream and said: “O Rupa Gosvamé, O expert writer of plays, this delightful place is near Keçi-tirtha, on the slope of Govardhana hill. This grove, on the bank of the Yamunä River, is very pleasant and full of many fragrant,
beautiful flowers. At this moment, eager to see the forest of Våndävana, the advanced devotees, expert at relishing the mellows of devotional service, have come here. Devotees whose hearts are full of love for Nanda's son, who is the crown jewel of all youths, and who is decorated with many new lotus flowers, playful like a maddened cuckoo, the first teacher of perfect flute players, and an ocean where the sharks of the gopis' hearts play. The devotees here are all very fortunate.
Text 3 (b)
kåtaà gopé-våndair iha bhagavato marganam abhud ihasét kalindé-pulina-valaye rasa-rabhasaùiti çrayaà çravaà caritam asakåd gokula-pater luöhann udbañpo 'yaà katham api dinani kñapayati
kåtam - performed; gopé - of gopés; våndaiù - by the multitudes; iha - here; bhagavataù - for the Supreme Personality of Godhead; marganam - searching; abhut - was; iha - here; asét - was; kalindé - of the Yamuna river; pulina - on the shore; valaye - in the grove; rasa - of the rasa dance; rabhasaù - with the joy; iti - thus; çravam çravam - repeatedly hearing; caritam - the pastimes; asakåt - again and again; gokula - of
Gokula; pateù - of the Lord (Çri Kåñëa); luöhan - rolling on the ground; udbañpaù - full of tears; ayam - this; kathamapi - with great difficulty; dinani - days; kñapayati - pass.
“Here the gopés searched for Kåñëa, and here, in this circle by the Yamunä's shore, they enjoyed a great räsa dance.' Hearing and hearing these pastimes of Gokula's master, weeping, and rolling on the ground, the devotees somehow pass their days.
Text 4 (a)
tad idaném etasya bhakta-våndasya mukunda-viçleñeddépanena bahir bhavantaù pranaù kam api tasyaiva keli-sudha-kalloliném ullasayata parirakñanéya bhavata.
mat-kåpaiva te samagréà samagrayiñyati" iti. tenadiya jagad-guror asya nideçam evanuvartiñye
tat - therefore; idaném - now; etasya - of this; bhakta - ofdevotees; vådasya - of the community; mukunda - of Mukunda; viçleça - of separation; uddépanena - with the stimulus; bahiù - outside; bhavantaù - going; pranaù - life airs; kam api - some; tasya - of Him; eva - certainly; keli - of thepastimes; sudha - of the nectar; kalloliném - river; ullasayata - manifesting; parirakñaëéyaù - should be protected; bhavata - by you; mat - my; kåpa - mercy; eva - certainly; te - your; samagrém - complete assemblage; samagrayiçyati - will fully provide; iti - thus; tena - by that; adya - today; jagat - of the
universe; guroù - of the spiritual master (Lord Çiva); asya - of him; nideçam - order; eva - certainly; anuvartiçye - I shallobey.
“Burning in separation from Lord Mukunda, these devotees are now about to give up their lives. O Rupa Gosvamé, please protect them, by giving them a little of the
nectar river of Lord Mukunda's pastimes. My mercy will give you the power to do this.” In this way Lord Çiva, the spiritual master of the universe, spoke. I will now obey His order.
Text 4 (b)
pariparçvikah: (praviçya) - bhava, bhavata nibaddhasya vidagdha-madhava-namno navéna-naöakasya prayoganusarena gåhéta-bhumikaù kuçélava raìga-praveçaya tatra-
bhavantam anujïapayanti.
sutradharaù: mariña, nirmitaù kim iti tan-naöaka-paripaöébhir varnika-parigrahaù (kñanaà vimåçya) bhavatu.
pariparçvikaù - Assitant Narrator (A student of Rupa Gosvamé); praviçya - having entered; bhava - O learned master; bhavata - by you; nibaddhasya - composed; vidagdha-madhava - Vidagdha-Madhava; namnaù - according to customs; gåhéta -
having heard; bhumikaù - the introduction; kuçélavaù - actors; raìga - on the stage; praveçaya - for entrance; tatra - there; bhavantam - to you; anujïapayanti - ask permission; sutradharaù - Narrator; mariña - my dear student; nirmitaù - created; kim - what?; iti - thus; tat - that; naöaka - ofthe play; paripaöébhiù - by the arrangements; varnika-parigrahaù - the costumes of the various actors; kñaëam - for a moment; vimåçya - reflecting; bhavatu - let it be.
Assitant Narrator: (enters) O master, having heard the prologue of your new play, named Vidagdha-Mädhava, the actors now ask permission to enter the stage.
Narrator: Dear student, are the costumes ready? (thinks for a moment) So be it.
Text 4 (c)
mamasmin sandarbhe yad api kavita natilalita mudaà dhasyanty asyaà tad api hari-gandhad budha-ganaùapaù çalagramaplavana-garimodgara-sarasaù sudhéù ko va kaupér api namita-murdha na pibati
mama - my; asmin - in this; sandarbhe - literary composition; yat api - although; kavita - poetry; na - not; ati - very; lalita - beautiful; mudam - delight; dhasyanti - will experience; asyam - in it; tat api - nevertheless; hari - of Lord Hari; gandhat - from
the fragrance; budha-ganaù - the learned devotees; apaù - water; çalagrama - Çalagrama stone; aplavana - bath; garima - significance; udgara - remaining; sarasaù - full of nectar; sudhéù - intelligent; kaù - who?; va - or; kaupéù - from a well; api - even; anmita - offering obeisances; murdha - with hishead; na - not; pibati - drinks.
Although the poetry in my play is not very beautiful, the wise will take delight in it, for it bears the scent of Lord Hari. What wise man will not bow his head and respectfully drink well-water that has washed a Çälagräma-çélä?
Text 5 (a)
pariparçvikaù bhava, raìga-lakñmé-kauçala-stutibhir eva sabhyan abhyarthayamahe, yad amé vidyadibhir devan api tan upalabdhum utsahante kim uta naöan asman
pariparçvikaù - Assistant Narrator; bhava - O learned master; raìga - on the stage; lakñmé - opulence; kauçala - skillfulness; stutibhiù - with prayers; eva - certainly; sabhyan - to the respected audience; abhyarthayamahe - we appeal; sabhyan - to the respected audience; yat - because; amé - these; vidya-adibhiù - with their expert knowledge; devan - the demigods; api - even; tan - them; upalabdhum - to criticize;
utsahante - are able; kim uta - what to speak; naöan - actors; asman - us.
Assistant Narrator: O master, please give us beautiful and elegant speeches, for this audience is so learned it will criticize the demigods, what to speak of us actors.
Text 5 (b)
sutradharaù: mariña, kåtam etaya våthopacara-caryaya, yataù
sutradharaù - Narrator; mariña - my dear student; kåtam - enough; etaya - with this; aåtha-upacara-caryaya - frivolousness; yataù - because.
Narrator: Dear student, why talk in this frivolous way? After all. . .
Text 5 (c)
aprekñya klamam atmane vidadhati prétya pareñaà priyaà lajjante duritodyamad iva nija-stotranubandhad apividya-vitta-kuladibhiç ca yad amé yanti kraman namrataà
ramya kapi satam iyaà vijayate naisargiké prakriya
aprekñya - not having seen; klamam - sweariness; atmanaù - of the self; vidadhati - creates; prétya - with love; pareçam - of others; priyam - dear; lajjante - become ashamed; durita-udyamat - because of a sinful deed; iva - just as; nija - own; stotra - prayers; anubandhat - because of many; api - even; vidya - knowledge; vitta - wealth; kula - birth in a high family; adibhiù - etc.; ca - and; yat - because; amé - these; yanti - go; kramat - gradually; namratam - to the state of ??; ramya - beautiful; ka api - someone; satam - of the saintly persons; iyam - this; vijayate - all glories; naisargiké - natural; prakriya - conduct.
Ignoring their own welfare, the people in this audience are concerned only for the well being of others. Although wealthy, well educated and born in exalted families, they are very humble. When they themselves glorified, they become embarrassed, as if
they themselves had sinned. All glories to the delightful virtues of this saintly audience.
Text 6 (a)
(samantad avalokya, saharçam uccaiù) haàho ballava-siàha-priyaù. bhagavad-dharmajïoñöhé-gurunam api yuñmakaà samaksaà arodhum upakramate, tad imaà kñamadhvaà capalarabhaöém. (iti sapranamaà paçyam)
samantat - in all directions; avalokya - having glanced; saharçam - cheerfully; uccaiù - with a loud voice; haàhaù - O; ballava - of the cowherd men; siàha - of the lion (Çri Kåñna); priyaù - dear devotees; bhagavat - of the Lord; dharma - of the path of religion; jnoñöhé - knowing; gurunam - spiritual masters; api - and; yuçmakam - of you; samakñam - in the presence; kim api - greatly; eçaù - he; vivakñamaëaù -
desiring to speak; taëdavikaù - actor; nirapatrapaëam - without shame; padavém - to the path; arodhum - to ascend; upakramate - approaches; tat - therefore; imam - this;
kñamadhvam - please forgive; capala - because of insolence; arabhaöém - boldness; iti - thus; sapraëamam - with bowing down; paçyan - seeing.
(Looking at all corners of the audience, with a loud and cheerful voice) O dear devotees of Çri Kåñëa, the lion of gopas! Beginning to walk on the path of the
shameless, a certain actor now wishes to say something to you, the spiritual masters wise in the true religion of worshiping the Lord. Please forgive this rash and arrogant person. (He bows down and then looks in a certain direction.)
Text 6 (b)
abhivyakta mattaù prakåti-laghu-rupad api budha vidhatré siddharthan hari-guna-mayé vaù kåtir iyampulindenapy agniù kim u samidham -unmathya janito hiranya-çreninam apaharati nantaù-kaluñatam
abhivyakta - manifested; mattaù - from me; prakåti - by nature; laghu-rupat - situated in a lower position; api - although; budhaù - O learned devotees; vidhatré - which may bring about; siddha-arthan - all the objects of perfection; hari-guna-mayi - whose subject matter is the attributes of Kåñna; vaù - of you; kåtiù - the poetic play known as Vidagdha-madhava; iyam - this; pulindena - by the lowest class of men; api - although; agniù - a fire; kimu - whether; samidham - the wood; unmathya - rubbing; janitaù - produced; hiraëya - of gold; çreëinam - of quantities; apaharati - vanquishes; na - not; antaù - inner; kaluñatam - dirty things.
O learned devotees, I am by nature ignorant and low, yet even though it is from me that Vidagdha-Mädhava has come, it is filled with descriptions of the transcendental attributes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, will not such
literature bring about the attainment of the highest goal of life? Although its wood may be ignited by a low-class man, fire can nevertheless purify gold. Although I am very low by nature, this book may help cleanse the dirt from within the hearts of the
golden devotees.*
Text 7 (a)
tad idaném abhéñöa devaà bhagavantam anusmåtya nåtya-madhurém ullasayami. (ity aïjalià baddhva)
tat - therefore; idaném - now; abhéñöa devam - worshipable deity; bhagavantam - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; anusmåtya - remembering; nåtya - of the drama; madhurém - sweetness; ullasayami - I will manifest; iti - thus; aïjalim baddhva - folds his hands.
Now, remembering the worshipable Supreme Personality of Godhead, I will show the sweetness of this drama. (He folds his hands.)
Text 7 (b)
prapanna-madhurodayaù sphurad-amanda-våndaöavé-
nikuïjamaya-mandapa-prakara-madhya-baddha-sthitiù
niraìkuça-kåpambudhir vraja-vihara-rajyan-manaù
sanatana-tanuù sada mayi tanotu tuñöià prabhuù
prapanna - attained for the surrended souls); madhura - the rasa of conjugal love (or kindness); udayaù - arisal; sphurat - splendid; amanda - great; vånda-aöavé - forest of Våndavana; nikuïja-maya - full of groves; mandapa - of pavillions (or temples); prakara - with multitudes; madhya-baddha-sthitiù - in the center; niraìkuça - unchecked; ; kåpa - mercy; ambudhiù - ocean; vraja - in Vraja; vihara - pastimes; rajyat - taking delight; manaù - mind; sanatana - eternal (or Sanatana Gosvamé); tanuù - form; sada - always; mayi - to me; tanotu - may extend; tuñöim - delight; prabhuù - master.
May the Supreme Lord, whose form is eternal, who is supremely sweet and charming, who stays in the glorious forests and pavilions of Våndävana forest, who is a limitless ocean of mercy, and whose heart delights in His Vraja pastimes, always be
pleased with me.
Note: Deliberately ambiguous, this verse may also be interpreted as a prayer to Çrila Sanatana Gosvamé. Thus it may also mean:
May my spiritual master, Çrila Sanatana Gosvamé, who is graceful and charming, who stays in the glorious forests and pavilions of Våndävana forest, who is a limitless ocean of mercy, and whose heart delights in Lord Kåñëa's Vraja pastimes, always
be pleased with me.
Text 8 (a)
pariparçvikaù: bhava, paçya.
pariparçvikah - Assistant Narrator; bhava - O master; paçya - just see.
Assistant Narrator: Master, look!
Text 8 (b)
bhaktanam udagad anargala-dhiyaà vargo nisargojjvalaù çélaiù pallavitaù sa ballava-vadhu-bandho prabandho 'py asaulebhe catvarataà ca tandava-vidher våndaöavé-garbha-bhur manye mad-vidha-punya-mandala-parépako 'yam unmilati
bhaktanam - of devotees; udagat - has appeared; anargala-dhiyam - constantly thinking of Rädhä-Kåñna; vargaù - the assembly; nisarga-ujjvalaù - naturally very advanced; çélaiù - with natural poetic decorations; pallavitaù - spread like the
leaves of a tree; saù - that; ballava-vadhu-bandhaù - of the friend of the gopés, Çri Kåñëa; prabandhaù - a literary composition; api - even; asau - that; lebhe - has achieved; catvaratam - the quality of a quadrangular place with level ground; ca - and; taëdava-vidheù - for dancing; våndaaöavi - of the forest of Våndavana; garbha-bhuù - the inner grounds; manye - I consider; mat-vidha - of persons like me; puëya-
maëdala - of groups of pious activities; paripakaù - the full development; ayam - this; unmélati - appears.
The devotees now present are constantly thinking of the Supreme Lord and are therefore highly advanced. This work named Vidadgha-Mädhava depicts the characteristic pastimes of Lord Kåñëa with decorations of poetic ornaments. And the inner grounds of the forest of Våndävana provide a suitable platform for the dancing of Kåñna with the gopis. Therefore I think that the pious activities of persons like us, who have tried to advance in devotional service, have now attained maturity.*
Text 9 (a)
tat tvarasva rasa-madhuré-pariveñanaya
sutradharaù: mariña, nérasavalé-vaimukhyad viçaìkamano mathara ivasmi
pariparçvikaù: bhava, kåtam atra çaìkaya. yataù.
tat - therefore; tvarasva - please hurry; rasa - of the mellows of trasncendental pastimes; madhuré - of the sweetness; pariveñanaya - for their distrubution; Sutradharaù - Narrator; mariña - my dear servant; nérasa - of those who have no taste for this nectar; avalé - of the multitude; vaimhyat - because of the aversion; viçaìkamanaù - frightened; mantharaù - slow; iva - as if; asmi - I am; pariparçvikaù -
Assistant Narrator; bhava - O master; kåtam - what is the use?; atra - here; çaìkaya - with caution; yataù - because.
Please hurry. Distribute the nectar of Kåñëa's pastimes.
Narrator: Dear student, I proceed very slowly because I fear the harsh words of persons who do not like the nectar of the Lord's pastimes.
Assitant Narrator: Master, please give up this caution, because.....
Text 9 (b)
udasataà nama rasanabhijïaù
kåtau tavamé rasikaù sphuranti
kramelakaiù kamam upekñite 'pi
pikaù sukhaà yanti paraà rasale
udasatam - let them be indifferent; nama - indeed; rasa - with the transcendental mellows; anabhijïaù - unaquainted; kåtau - in the creation; tava - your; amé - these; rasikaù - those who are expert at relishing the transcendental mellows; sphuranti - shine; kramelakaiù - by camels; kamam - voluntarily; upakñite - neglected; api - although; pikaù - cuckoos; sukham - happiness; yanti - go; param - supreme; rasale - mango tree.
Persons who know how to taste nectar will be delighted by your play, and persons who know nothing of nectar will ignore it. Of their own accord camels avoid the mango trees that delight the poetic pika birds.