Verse 51

Sri Yugala Shayana madhuri

(The beauty of Rādhā Krishna at rest)

Sri Yadunandan Thakur here adds the following bridge to the upcoming description:
“Seeing Rādhā Shyamasundar’s incomparable madhuri, the manjaris begin to describe it to each other.”

Sri Yadunandana Thakur’s mention of the manjaris here is befitting. The joy of peeking through the forest foliage to witness Rādhā Govinda’s prema keli constitutes the highest reward for Rupanuga Vaishnavas.

In Krishna-bhavanamrita, Srila Vishwanath Chakravarti also reveals the following kathamrita of the manjaris: One dasi exclaims to another: “Oh enchanting one! Were our Yugala Kishor inexpertly dressed by the sakhis? Surely their clothes and ornaments were cast aside by Shringara Sakhi (“the sakhi of erotic love”)!

Just see-she has decorated them with her own love marks (rati-cihna)! So now the beauty of Rādhā Krishna’s shringar is fully visible!”
Another manjari deliberates: “Hey auspicious one! I can guess the reason why Rādhā and Krishna’s yellow and blue dress are missing: Krishna’s bluish bodily effulgence elegantly covers Rādhā’s body and, similarly, Rādhā’s yellow effulgence adorns Krishna’s body. Therefore Kamadeva thought, ‘It would surely be unbefitting and redundant to dress them again in their blue and yellow outfits!'”

The previous seva dasi continues: “Hey sakhi! When Madan Raja (Cupid) conquered Rādhā’s bodily kingdom, he ordered Modesty Devi to reside in her eyes, face and breasts as their gatekeeper in order to guard them. So why has he now gone and destroyed chased her away?

Since every trace of Modesty Devi has disappeared, she must be guilty of some grave apaRādhā! Or, maybe it has nothing to do with her, and it is our unseen good fortune that has descended in order to satiate our eyes with joy! Then again, perhaps Modesty Devi, after seeing her protectorate prosper offered it as a gift to King Kandarpa and left on her own. Now when Rādhā awakens, Modesty will find in her body the unequalled riches left behind by Cupid!” (Krishna-bhavanamrita 1.10-14)

In Krishnahnika-kaumudi, one manjari addresses another: “Aho! Have our Priya-yugala become one? Owing to their tight embrace, I can’t tell the difference between them! Their superb rati utsava took place last night, but has it now started up again on Kamadeva’s request? Surely he must have thought: ‘Oh no! Rādhā and Krishna’s milan is coming to an end, so I’d better do something!’

Thus, using the gem-like needles of their romancha (hairs standing on end) and the threads of their rati ananda, Kamadeva sewed Rādhā and Govinda’s divine, effulgent bodies together.” (Krishnahnika-kaumudi, 1.30-31)

Verse 51

utthāyeśaḥ sanniviṣṭo’tha talpe
vyājān nidrā śālinīṁ mīlitākṣīm |
dorbhyāṁ kāntāṁ svāṅkam ānīya tāntāṁ
paśyaty asyā mādhurīṁ sādhu-rīti ||51||

Krishna picks up Rādhā and places her on his lap; she is listless due to fatigue. As Krishna ardently gazes upon her sweet form (anga madhuri), Sri Radhika pretends to be asleep.

Rasa-tarangini Tika:

As described in shloka 45, Krishna separated himself from his prana-koti-priyatama (One who is more dear than a million lives), sat up on the flower bed, and lost himself in fascination! Understanding Rādhā’s slumber to be a pretense, Krishna mildly smiles. Then taking advantage of the situation, his eyes drink in the wonderful sweetness of her bodily limbs until tears of ecstasy come to his eyes and fall, bathing her! Knowing Krishna’s inner desire, Rādhā continues her feigned sleep so that his netra utsava (festival for the eyes) can increase.