Niśānta-līlā (Pastimes at the End of Night)

PART 1

(1)
rādhe!
kabe niśi avasāne, e vraja-nikuñja vane
nidrā tyāji dekhiba jāgiyā
tumi ta śyāmera sane, ācha nidrā acetane
kisalaya talpete śutiyā

O Rādhe! When will that time come when, after the night draws to an end, in this forest bower of Vraja, leaving sleep aside, I will wake up and see You with Śyāma, sleeping in a state of unconsciousness, resting on a bed of tender leaves?

(2)
paraspara āliṅgita, gaurī śyāma suśobhita
se śayana sakhī mana lobhā
gambhīra nikuñja sthale, maṇi dīpa śata jvale
tāhe rūpa alaṅkāra śobhā

Gaurī and Śyāma adorn each other in Their mutual embrace. and seeing Them resting, the minds of the sakhīs are charmed. In the depth of that forest bower, hundreds of jewelled lamps shine brightly which enriches the beauty of Their forms.

(3)
duṅha śobhā daraśane, parama ananda mane
vakhaniba se sukha milana
heri heri sakhī-gaṇa, preme habe acetana
sva-saubhāgya māniba takhana

Seeing the beauty of both of Them, in a Supremely blissful state of mind, I will describe that blissful union – ‘Look! Look! O sakhīs!’ and become unconscious with prema! Thus I will consider this to be my own good fortune.

(4)
kintu bhaya pāre sabe, tapana udibe ghare
vipakṣa jānibe ei rasa
e sukha milana raṅga, nāhi keha cāhe bhaṅga
nā bhāṅgile haibe virāsa

But when the sun rises, everybody will become afraid since the rivals will come to know of this rasa. Although nobody wants this blissful pastime of union to stop, if it does not end, it will become distasteful.

PART 2

 (1)
rādhe!
rahasya gopana lāgi, vṛndā-devī anurāgī
niyojive tabe nija jane
vraje paśu-pakṣī sava, uccāribe nija rava
nidrā-bhaṅge karibe yatana

O Rādhe!  Vṛndā Devī is very devoted to this confidential secret and she will engage her own associates – all the animals and birds of Vraja will cry out with their own sounds and carefully endeavour to wake them from Their slumber.

(2)
śuka-śārī kari gana, kokila dharibe tāna
jhaskāribe bhramarādi sabe
nidrā-bhaṅga nā haile, kakkhaṭīra kolāhale
jāgibe he rādhe kṛṣṇa tabe

The male and female parrots will start singing, the cuckoo will initiate a melody, and all the bumble bees will make humming sounds. If Their sleep is still not broken, then Kakkhaṭī (Rādhā’s female pet monkey) will create a commotion, Then Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa will awake.

(3)
duṅha rasālasa rūpa, heri pāba baḍa sukha
kabe hāma mātaba sevāya
diba surāsita jala, śrī-karpūra su-tāmbūla
nūpura parāba seṅha pāya

Both of Them are feeling rested, and seeing this, I will attain great happiness. When will I be absorbed in the service of offering scented water,  as well as beautiful betel leaves flavoured with wonderful camphor, and when will I tie ankle bells on Their feet?

(4)
śuniba śravaṇa bhari, rasodgāra su-mādhurī
duṅhāra ārati daraśane
ukhalibe sukha sindhu, o rādhe parāṇa-bandhu
duṅhu mukha heri kṣaṇe kṣaṇe

With all my hearing faculty I will hear the most sweet emanations of rasa. Upon having darśana of Their ārati being performed,, an ocean of bliss will gush forth. “O Rādhe! Friend of my very life, I see both of Your faces at every moment.

PART 3

(1)
vāsa-veśa-alaṅkāra,  kuntala alakā āra
niśā-raṅge saba viparyanta
sakhīra iṅgite kare, e dāsī niyuktā hare
yathāyatha karite vinyanta

All their clothes and ornaments, as well as their locks of hair and other decorations, are all in disarray due to Their nocturnal pastimes, When a sakhī indicates, this maidservant will be engaged in properly arranging everything,

(2)
pīta-vastra kṛṣṇe diba, nīla sāḍī khule laba
tomāreta parāva yatane
tuyā mukha mucchāiyā, siṅtāya sindhura diyā
dekhāiba śrī-nanda-nandane

I will give yellow garments to Kṛṣṇa, and I will take away Your blue sāḍī and dress You with care. After cleaning Your face, and applying sindhura on the partition of Your hair, I will present You to the Son of Nanda Mahārāja.

(3)
tuyā vakṣe nakha-cina, pucchiyā kariba hīna
tad-upari candana carcciba
se samaye kṛṣṇa-sukha, āḍe dekhe pāba sukha
kṛṣṇa-kare vāṁśi tuli diba

There is a nail mark on Your breast, and I will rub it so that the bruise is reduced and will apply sandalwood paste to it. At that time Kṛṣṇa feels blissful, and seeing that from the corner of my eye I will also become happy. Then I will give the flute in Kṛṣṇa’s hand.

(4)
gṛhe yātrā abhimukhe, dujane calibe sukhe
nānā kathā kautuka taraṅga
pathite viccheda habe, tuhu laye yāba tabe
saba sakhī tuyā gṛhe raṅge

While travelling home, Both leave in a happy mood, amidst waves of various words and jokes. Along the way there will feelings of separation. Then I will take You away, and all the sakhīs will joyfully go to Your home.

PART 4

(1)
rādhe! yāvaṭe…
śrī-ratna-mandira mājhe, baḍa khaṭṭa su-virāje
tāhe talpa ati manohara
aruṇa udaya yabe, tomāreta laye tabe
śoyāiba śrī-khaṭṭa upara

O Rādhe! In Yāvata, in the midst of the gem-studded temple, a large bedstead is beautifully situated, which is very attractive. When the sun rises, Then I will take You and make You sleep on that splendid bed.

(2)
niśā kathā nāhi āne, kona parakāre jāne
ehata bhāvanā sakhī-kule
nija nija gṛhe yābe, e dāsī śuibe tabe
paurṇamāsī rahibe vyākule

The happenings of the night are not brought up, for what is the benefit for others to know?  This is what the group of sakhīs feel.  They will go to their own homes, and this maidservant will then go to sleep. Paurṇamāsī will remain anxious.

(3)
kuñja-līlā habe gupta, sakale rahibe supta
prāte ravi udibe yakhana
uṭhibe e vidhikarī, gṛha-mārjjanādi kari
vastra saba rākhibe takhana

The pastimes in the forest bowers will remain hidden and everyone will continue to sleep. When the sun rises in the morning, following the proper standards, I will wake up and perform the household chores such as cleaning etc. Then I will arrange all the clothes.

(4)
kuñja-līlā smṛti rase, ḍubiyā premera vaśe,
hā rādhe hā rādhe phukāriba
avaśa haibe deha, nā bujhibe citta keha
tuyā nidrā-bhaṅga karāiba

 

In the rasa of remembrance of the pastimes within the forest bowers, and being drowned under the subjugation of prema, I will call out, ‘O Rādhe! O Rādhe!’ My body will become numb and nobody will understand my mind. I will then wake You up from Your slumber.