Manaḥ Śīkṣā – Verse 9

mad-īśā-nāthatve vraja-vipina-candraṁ vraja-vane-
śvarīṁ tan-nāthatve tad-atula-sakhītve tu lalitām
viśākhāṁ śikṣālī-vitaraṇa-gurutve priyasaro-
girīndrau tat-prekṣā-lalita-ratidatve smara manaḥ

(“O mind, remember Vraja-vipina-candra as the Lord of my Mistress. Also remember my Mistress Vraja-vaneśvarī, as well as Her friends, the incomparable Lalitā, and the guru Viśākhā who imparts many instructions. Also remember Her beloved lake and the King of Mountains who, just by seeing Them, bestow charming attachment to the Divine Couple.”)

Bhajana-darpaṇa Bhāṣya

VERSE MEANING:

He mana! tumi vraja-vipina-candra-ke āmār adhīśvarī śrī-rādhikāra prāṇa-nātha baliyā, vrajeśvarī śrī-rādhikā-ke madīya adhīśvarī baliyā, śrī-lalitā sakhī-ke vraja-vaneśvarīra atula-sakhī baliyā, śrīmatī viśākhā-ke śīkṣā-guru baliyā evaṁ śrī-rādhā-kuṇḍa u śrī govardhana-ke tat-prekṣā-lalita-rati-da baliyā nirantara smaraṇa kara. (9)

(“O mind! Constantly remember the Moon of the forest of Vraja, who is the Lord of the life of my Mistress, Śrī Rādhikā. Also, remember my Mistress, Śrī Rādhikā, the Queen of Vraja. Remember the incomparable friend of the Queen of Vraja’s forest, Śrī Lalitā Sakhī. Remember the śikṣā-guru, Śrīmatī Viśākhā, and remember Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śrī Govardhana, that award charming attachment just by seeing them.”)

(1) Vraja-vipina-candra (The Moon of the Forest of Vraja):

Śrī Rūpa says: *

nava-jaladhara-varṇaṁ campakodbhāsi-karṇaṁ
vikasita-nalināsyaṁ visphuran-manda-hāsyam
kanaka-ruci-dukūlaṁ cāru-barhāva-cūlaṁ
kamapi nikhila-sāraṁ naumi gopī-kumāram

(“I offer respects unto that gopī’s youthful Son, whose complexion is like that of a new raincloud, whose ears are decorated with radiant campaka flowers, whose blossoming lotus-like face exhibits a gentle smile, who wears garments of a golden hue, who is crowned with a beautiful peacock feather, and who is the greatest of all personalities.”)

mukha-jita-śarad-induḥ keli-lavaṇya-sindhuḥ
kara-vinihita-kandur ballavī-praṇa-bandhuḥ
vapur upasṛta-reṇuḥ kakṣa-nikṣipta-veṇur
vacana-vaśaga-dhenuḥ patu maṁ nanda-sunuḥ

(“His face defeats the Autumn moon, He is an ocean of charming pastimes, He holds a ball in His hand, and He is the dearmost friend of the gopīs. His body is covered in dust, and a flute for bringing the cows under control is tucked under His arm. May that Son of Nanda protect me.”)

* These are the first two verse from the Mukunda-muktāvali of Stava-mālā

viracaya mayi daṇḍaṁ dīna-bandho dayāṁ vā
gatir iha na bhavattaḥ kācid anyā mamāsti
nipatatu śata-koṭir nirmalaṁ vā navāmbhas
tad api kila payodaḥ stūyate cātakena

(“O Friend of the fallen, whether you punish me or give me mercy, apart from You I have no other refuge in this world. You may do anything to me. Whether there is fresh rain or thunderbolts, the cātaka bird still prays to the clouds nonetheless.”)

prācīnānāṁ bhajanam atulaṁ duṣkaraṁ śṛṇvato me
nairyāśena jvalati hṛdayaṁ bhakti-leśālasasya
viśva-drīcīm agha-hara tavākarṇya kāruṇya-vīcīm
āśā-bindu kṣitam idam upaity-antare hanta śaityam

(“When I hear of the incomparable bhajana performed by those in ancient times, my heart burns with hopelessness, because I am weak and lazy in my devotion. O Killer of Agha, upon hearing about the waves of Your mercy coming to Brahmā down to the lowest creatures, then my heart cools down with the hope of attaining a frop of that.”) *

* These are the first two verses from the Tribhaṅgo-pañcaka of Stava-mālā.

2) Vrajeśvarī-ke mad īśvarī (My Mistress, the Queen of Vraja):

Śrī Dāsa Gosvāmī has written in his Vilāpa-kusumāñjali:

aty utkaṭena nitarāṁ virahānalena
dandahyamāna hṛdayā kila kāpi dāsī
hā svāmini kṣanam iha praṇayena gāḍham
ākrandanena vidhurā vilapāmi padyaiḥ

(“My heart is constantly burning due to the intense fire of separation. O Svāmīnī! At the moment, this particular maidservant, agitated and crying with pain here, laments with these verses.”)

devi duḥkha-kula-sāgarodare
dūyamānam ati durgataṁ janam
tvaṁ kṛpā-prabala-naukayādbhutaṁ
prāpaya sva-pada-paṅkajālayam

(“O Goddess! This most wretched person is suffering in the midst of an ocean of miseries. please rescue this unfortunate person drowning in an ocean of pain. By the power of the wonderful boat of Your mercy, please bring me to the abode of Your lotus feet!”) *

* Verses 7 and 8 of Vilāpa-kusumāñjali.

3) Atula-sakhī Lalitā (Lalitā, the Incomparable Friend):

Śrī Rūpa writes:

(1)
rādhā-mukunda-pada-sambhava-gharma-bindu
nirmañchanopakaraṇī-kṛta-deha-lakṣām
uttuṅga-sauhṛda-viśeṣa-vaśāt pragalbhāṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulalitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, who cannot tolerate seeing even a drop of perspiration produced from the feet of Rādhā and Mukunda and comes to remove it with such intensity as if she had a million bodies. Out of her special love for Them, she is very haughty and bold.”)

(2)
rākā-sudhā-kiraṇa-maṇḍala-kānti-daṇḍi-
vaktra-śriyaṁ cakita-cāru-camūru-netrām
rādhā-prasādhana-vidhāna-kalā-prasiddhāṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulalitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, whose beautiful face mocks the effulgence nectarean rays of the full moon. Her eyes are as alluring as those of a startled doe, and she is famous for her expertise in the art of decorating Śrī Rādhā.”)

(3)
lāsyollasad-bhujaga-śatru-patatra-citra-
paṭṭāṁśukābharaṇa-kañculikāñcitāṅgīm
gorocanā-ruci-vigarhaṇa-gaurimāṇaṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulalitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, whose form is gracefully adorned with a bodice, ornaments, and silk garments that are as brilliant as the tail of a jubilantly dancing peacock, and whose golden lustre mocks the colour of gorocanā.”)

(4)
dhūrte vrajendra-tanaye tanu suṣṭhu-vāmyaṁ
mā dakṣiṇā bhava kalaṅkini lāghavāya
rādhe giraṁ śṛṇu hitām iti śikṣayantīṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulatitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, who advises thus: “O Rādhe! Please hear these words for Your own welfare! The Son of the king of Vraja is very cunning, so you should not cooperate with Him. Don’t be submissive, otherwise you will be condemned for taking Him lightly!”)

(5)
rādhāmabhi-vrajapateḥ kṛtamātmajena
kūṭaṁ manāg api vilokya vilohitākṣīm
vāg-bhaṅgibhis tam-acireṇa vilajjayantīṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulalitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, whose eyes turn red upon seeing the Lord of Vraja trying to trick Rādha even a little. She immediately puts a stop to His trickery by embarrassing Him with a barrage of words.”)

(6)
vātsalya-vṛnda-vasatiṁ paśupāla-rājñyāḥ
sakhyānuśikṣaṇa-kalāsu guruṁ sakhīnām
rādhā-balāvaraja-jīvita-nirviśeṣāṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulalitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, who receives an abundance of parental affection from Yaśōdā, the queen of the cowherd folk. She is the guru of the sakhīs who teaches them about the art of friendship, and she makes no distinction between Rādhā and the Kṛṣṇa, the younger Brother of Balarāma, who are her very life.”)

(7)
yāṁ kām api vraja-kule vṛṣabhānujāyāḥ
prekṣya svapakṣa-padavīm anuruddhyamānām
sadyas-tad-iṣṭa-ghaṭanena kṛtārthayantīṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulalitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, who upon seeing anyone in the community of Vraja who is inclined towards the Daughter of Vṛṣabhānu, accepts that person in her own party and immediately fulfils all their desires.”)

(8)
rādhā-vrajendra-suta-saṅgama-raṅga-caryāṁ
varyāṁ viniścitavatīm akhilotsavebhyaḥ
tāṁ gokula-priya-sakhī-nikuramba-mukhyāṁ
devīṁ guṇaiḥ sulalitāṁ lalitāṁ namāmi

(“I offer my obeisance unto the most charming and virtuous Goddess Lalitā, who is the best amongst the multitudes of priya-sakhīs in Gokula. She arranges for the meeting between Rādhā and the Son of the king of Vraja, which is considered to be the greatest of all festivals.”)*

* Lalitāṣṭaka from Stava–mālā.

4) Śikṣā-guru viśākhā (Viśakhā, who is the śikṣā-guru):

Śrī Vidyābhūṣaṇa writes:

viśākhorasi yā viṣṇor yasyāṁ viṣṇur jalātmani
nityaṁ nimajjati prītyā tāṁ saurīṁ yamunāṁ stumaḥ

(“I offer prayers unto Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya. Viṣṇu constantly bathes with great happiness in her waters which are the liquid form of Viśākhā.”)

viśākha yamunā-vapur iti vicāreṇa
yamunā-stutyā tat stutir – iti vidyābhūṣaṇaḥ

(“Viśākhā is considered to be the embodiment of the Yamunā. By offering prayers to Yamunā, one is also offering prayers to Viśākhā.”)

Śrī Rūpa says:

(1)
bhrātur antakasya pattane ’bhipatti-hāriṇī
prekṣayāti-pāpino ’pi pāpa-sindhu-tāriṇī
nīra-mādhurībhir apy-aśeṣa-citta-bandhinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“May Yamunā, the daughter of the friend of the lotus (Sūrya), continuously purify me. She saves one from entering the realm of her brother, Yama. Simply by seeing her, even the most wicked are able to cross an ocean of evil. She charms all hearts by the uninterrupted sweet, nectarean waters.”)

(2)
hāri-vāri-dhārayābhimaṇḍitoru-khāṇḍavā
puṇḍarīka-maṇḍalodyad-aṇḍajāli-tāṇḍavā
snāna-kāma-pāmarogra-pāpa-sampad-andhinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“With her charming streams of water, she decorates the great Khāṇḍava forest. She is filled with a host of dancing birds and circles of blooming lotus flowers. She destroys a multitude of terrible vices for those who desire to bathe in her waters. May Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya, continuously purify me.”)

(3)
śīkarābhimṛṣṭa-jantu-durvipāka-mardinī
nanda-nandanāntaraṅga-bhakti-pura-vardhinī
tīra-saṅgamābhilāṣi-maṅgalānubandhinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“Just by a drop of her waters, the karmika reactions of people are destroyed. She increases the flow of confidential bhakti for Nandanandana. She creates auspiciousness for those who desire to reside upon her banks. May Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya, continuously purify me.”)

(4)
dvīpa-cakravāla-juṣṭa-sapta-sindhu-bhedinī
śrī-mukunda-nirmitoru-divya-keli-vedinī
kānti-kandalībhir indranīla-vṛnda-nindinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“She separates the great continents and seven oceans. She knows of the various pastimes that are created by Śri Mukunda, and her effulgence mocks a host of sapphires. May Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya, continuously purify me.”)

(5)
māthureṇa maṇḍalena cāruṇābhimaṇḍitā
prema-naddha-vaiṣṇavādhva-vardhanāya paṇḍitā
urmi-dor-vilāsa-padmanābha-pāda-vandinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“She is beautifully adorned by Mathurā-maṇḍala, and is expert in nurturing the path of prema which is followed by the Vaiṣṇavas. With the playful movement of her waves, that are her arms, she offers her respects unto Padmanābha’s feet. May Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya, continuously purify me.”)

(6)
ramya-tīra-rambhamāṇa-go-kadamba-bhuṣitā
divya-gandha-bhāk-kadamba-puṣpa-rāji-ruṣitā
nanda-sunu-bhakta-saṅgha-saṅgamābhinandinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“Her charming shore is decorated with a host of lowing cows, and it is covered with many divinely fragrant kadamba flowers. She feels great delight in the company of the devotees of the Son of Nanda. May Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya, continuously purify me.”)

(7)
phulla-pakṣa-mallikākṣa-haṁsa-lakṣa-kujitā
bhakti-viddha-deva-siddha-kinnarāli-pujitā
tīra-gandhavāha-gandha-janma-bandha-randhinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“Her banks are filled with the warbling of thousands of merry swans, and she is worshiped with devotion by the Devas, Siddhas, and Kinnaras. A slight fragrant breeze from her shore halts the cycle of repeated birth. May Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya, continuously purify me.”)

(8)
cid-vilāsa-vāri-pura-bhur-bhuvaḥ-svarāpinī
kīrtitāpi durmadoru-pāpa-marma-tāpinī
ballavendra-nandanāṅgarāga-bhaṅga-gandhinī
māṁ punātu sarvadāravinda-bandhu-nandinī

(“She inundates the three worlds of Bhū, Bhuva and Svar with spiritual pastimes. Her glories are able to incinerate even the worst types of immoral activities, and her waves are fragrent due to their coming in contact with the body of the Son of the king of the cowherd men, Śrī Kṛṣṇa. May Yamunā, the daughter of Sūrya, continuously purify me.”) *

*Yamunāṣṭaka from Stava-mālā.

5) Priya-saraḥ śrī-rādhā-kuṇḍa (Her beloved lake, Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa):

Thus, it is said in Vilāpa-kusumāñjali:

he śrī-sarovara sadā tvayi sā madīśā
preṣṭhena sārdham iha khelati kāmaraṅgaiḥ
tvaṁ cet priyāt priyam ativa tayor itīmāṁ
hā darśayādya kṛpayā mama jīvitaṁ tām

(“O divine lake! My Mistress eternally enjoys blissful amorous sports with Her beloved here on your shore. If you are extremely dear to Them, then, O be merciful unto me and give me darśana of She who is my very life.”)

Similarly, praying to Viśākhā with love:

kṣaṇam api tava saṅgaṁ na tyajed eva devi
tvam asi sama-vayas tvān-narmabhūmir yad asyāḥ
iti sumukhi viśākhe darśayitvā mad-īśāṁ
mama viraha-hatāyāḥ prāṇa-rakṣāṁ kuruṣva

(“My Goddess will never leave your company even for a moment because you are both the same age and you are the abode of playful humour. Thus, O Viśākhā of beautiful countenance, please show me my Mistress and save my life, for I am on the verge of death being separated from Her.”) *

* Vilāpa-kusumāñjali, verses 98 and 99

6) Girīndra (The King of Mountains):

This refers to Govardhana Hill. In his Śrī Govardhana–vāsa Prārthana, Śrī Dāsa Gosvāmī writes:

giri-nṛpa hari-dāsa-śreṇi-varyeti nāmā-
mṛtam idam uditaṁ śrī rādhikā-vaktra-candrāt
vraja-nava-tilakatve klṛpta vedaiḥ sphuṭaṁ me
nija-nikaṭa-nivāsaṁ dehi govardhana tvam

(“O king of mountains! Your nectaran name, ‘Hari-dāsa-varya’ – the best of Hari’s servants, appeared from the moon-like mouth of Śrī Rādhikā. The Vedas have declared that you are the fresh tilaka marking that has manifest in Vraja. O Govardhana, kindly give me residence near to you.”)

Bhakti can arise simply by taking darśana of Śrī Rādhā-kuṇḍa and Śrī Govardhana. All the places of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s divine pastimes can award various types of rati, thus they should all be remembered.