Page 3: Our Lord's Beloved Power

The name Radha comes from the word 'aradhalia': One who can serve, who can worship, who can give respect, who really loves Krsna, who can render loving service. All of these other ladies who are famous for their chastity and piety are but partial representations of Radharani. If we note the scriptures and scrutinize the position of those virtuous ladies, we'll find that the source of all their chastity and devotion is Srimati Radharani. She is the fountainhead of devotion. And so Bhaktivinoda says, "I bow down and take the dust of the holy feet of those who have as their only wealth the service of Radharani. I hanker after nothing else." Whoever knows this and always travels on that path with a sincere heart is most fortunate.

~Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, Loving Search for the Lost Servant, Ch 9

pidabhir nava-kala-kuta-katuta-garvasya nirvasano
nisyandena mudam sudha-madhurimahankara-sankochanah
prema sundari nanda-nandana-paro jagarti yasyantare
jnayante sphutam asya vakra-madhuras tenaiva vikrantayah
(Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 2.52)

The nature of the love of Radha and Krishna is described in this verse. It is like the burning pain caused by a cobra's bite which can cause unconsciousness within minutes, such inconceivable pain coming through love. Similarly the happiness coming through that love is like all ecstasy coming together, taking form and giving inconceivable joy in the heart.

akaitava krsna-prema, yena jambunada-hema,
sei prema nrloke na haya
yadi haya tara yoga, na haya tabe viyoga,
viyoga haile keha na jiyaya
(Chaitanya-charitamrta: Madhya-lila, 2.43)

Who has that type of love for Krishna, he cannot be separated from that in any way at any time, and if somehow separation does occur then he or she must surely die.

Srila Rupa Goswami has written:

disi disi rachayantim sancharen netra-laksmi
vilasita-khuralibhih kanjaritasya khelam
hrdaya-madhupa-mallim vallavadhisa-suner
akhila-guna-garbhiram radikam archchayami

And Sri Prabhodananda Saraswati has given the following verse in praise of Srimati Radharani:

yasyah kadapi vasananchala-khelanottha-
dhanyatidhanya-pavanena krtarthamani
yogindra-durgama-gatir madhusudano 'pi
tasyah namo 'stu vrsabhanubhuvodise 'pi

The meaning is a very high matter to discuss in a public meeting. Our Gurus have given very strong caution in this regard and that is always checking our tongue. Srila Guru Maharaj has written that Sukadev Goswami, Lord Siva and Lord Brahma, all have given indication from afar - Suka-Siva-Brahmadi-sammanitam (Srimad Bhaktivinodaviraha Dasakam) - but all are reluctant to take the Name of Srimati Radharani publically, and why is that? The reason is that they are fearful that we will mix that highest thing with sahajiyaism, imitationism. A warning is given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam itself:

vikriditam vraja-vadhubhir idam cha visnoh
sraddhanvito 'nusrnuyad atha varayed yah
bhaktim param bhagavati pratilabhya kamam
hrd-rogam asv apahinoty achirena dhirah
(10.33.39)

The meaning is that if you hear about the Pastimes of Krishna with the Gopis, then from your physical and subtle body, lust will be driven out and you will become dhira, or liberated with the mood of real devotion. But we are warned how to hear and the correct way to discuss these things. This is also given in this verse, sraddhanvitah and anusrnuyat, first strong faith in those Pastimes is necessary, and secondly you must hear those Pastimes only from a perfect master, who is himself liberated and in full knowledge. Without fulfilling these two conditions if you try to discuss these matters, you will be in a very dangerous position.

naitat samacharej jatu
manasapi hy anisvarah
vinasyaty acharan maudhyad
yatharudro 'bdhi-jam visam
(Srimad-Bhagavatam: 10.33.30)

Without following the proper course, to hear and discuss these things will be as dangerous as trying to drink poison in imitation of Lord Siva. These things must be heard, but strictly under the guidance of an expert, otherwise you will lose. We can discuss these slokas of Prabhodananda Saraswati a little, but I do not like to enter into that in public, rather I will try to glorify our Lord's beloved Power in another way.

Before I began today, we sang Sri Sri Radhika Stuthih by Srila Rupa Goswami. There he is glorifying Srimati Radharani: Radhe jaya jaya Madhava-dayite. She is the dearmost Power of Krishna, Madhava. Srila Rupa Goswami Prabhu has used this word 'Madhava.' 'Ma' means Laksmidevi, and Laksmidevi also wants entrance into the Rasa-lila of Sri Krishna. When Krishna shows His majestic form of Narayan, the Power there is Laksmidevi. In Narayan we will find dasya-rasa and ardha-sakya (half friendship). No one will say to Narayan, "Oh my friend Narayan, please come here." But that is possible with Krishna. After tasting a very sweet fruit we cannot then offer that to Narayan, but again that is possible with Krishna. So we can say that a more beautiful relationship is found with Lord Krishna. We can play with Krishna, but we cannot play with Narayan. Laksmidevi is always serving Narayan in a very honourable way, whereas the Gopis are treating Krishna as their boyfriend, and so Laksmidevi aspires to enter into that group. The lila of Sri Ramachandra is also different to that of Krishna. Sri Ramachandra is so beautiful that the rsis of Dandakaranya wanted to play with Him. They offered to take the form of girls to play with Him, but He told them, "It is not possible in this Avatar, but when Krishna appears in dwapara-yuga, then you can take the form of girlfriends and play with Me. But that form must be Krishna."